When Securitisation Meets Resistance: A Counter-Securitisation Analysis of Pakistan’s May 09 Incident

This article examines the May 09 incident in Pakistan, focusing on the ensuing securitisation process and the significant resistance that confronted these efforts through opposing counter-securitisation strategies. On 9 May 2023, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan–Imran Khan was arrested by the security forces from the premises of Islamabad High Court on the charges of corruption. His detention led to countrywide violent protests and attacks on security installations. In the subsequent securitisation speech act, May 09 was labelled a ‘Black Day’ by the security forces, framing Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), as security threats.However, the securitisation move faced strong resistance from Imran Khan and his party challenging the securitisation of May 09 through counter-securitisation measures. The resistance added complexity to the securitisation process, transforming it into a prolonged and multifaceted strategic contestation between the security forces and Khan, as both sides engaged in competing securitisation and counter-securitisation actions.This article contributes to the existing literature by exploring the May 09 incident, demonstrating how securitisation strategies can encounter resistance from opposing parties, who counter-securitise to delegitimise the actions of others while legitimising their own.