Urge people to protest in the name of “revolution”, urge people to protest in the name of “change”, urge people to protest in the name of “rights”, urge people to protest in the name of “economic well-being”, urge people to protest in the name of “Islam”. Spark violence, commit target killings and say we have no personal interest. We are doing all this for the poor people. This is Pakistan, the land of the pure, where all is done in the name of the general public. One wonders in which part of the world we are living where, after regular intervals of two or three months, a new crisis emerges. One can name many including terrorism, the law and order situation, target killings in Karachi and Quetta, the energy crisis, gas crisis and much more.
Now, for the last some months, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) have been doing protest politics in Pakistan. Contrary to the PTI, the PAT workers are quite violent and they are causing losses to the life and property of the unfortunate people of Pakistan and unlucky personnel of the law enforcement agencies. Whether it was June 14, 2014 or August 8-9, 2014, the so-called “Youm-e-Shuhada”, PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and his followers have played dirty games and have created a sort of political hangover.
Though the police action of direct firing on PAT workers on June 14, 2014 was a condemnable act, what the PAT is doing now is more dangerous. According to media reports, PAT workers openly beat policemen, held them hostage and reportedly killed one of them. Media reports also reveal that PAT Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri also openly urged his followers to cross all government barriers in order to reach Lahore to observe Youm-e-Shuhada.
While the constitution of Pakistan grants rights to the people of Pakistan for peaceful protest, one has the right to question what the PAT workers did on August 9, 2014: was it a rational act? The ‘peaceful protesters’, the revolutionists of PAT with sticks in their hands pinned with hooks were wearing gas masks on their faces and were carrying bags on their backs (probably filled with drinks and eatables). They played havoc with the policemen on duty and added to the worries of the general public of Lahore in particular and the country in general. Rationally, the PAT should adopt a legal, constitutional way to come to power rather than adopting irrational and violent means to seek power. If the PAT wants to rule this country, it should wait for the next general elections, participate in it and come up as a winning party rather than using illegal means for this lust for power; oh sorry, to “serve the general public”.
On the other hand, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also called his party workers for a million-man march, named the azaadi (independence) march, on August 14, 2014. Though the PTI has a history of peaceful marches and protests, the Qadri addition has added fuel to the fire. Personally, this writer feels that Khan’s demands are quite genuine and that the PML-N has to pay heed to his demand of recounting in some constituencies, which it did not. After a hue and cry of 14 months to resolve this issue, the PTI has now called for a long march.
There is no doubt that the PTI demand for the recounting of votes in some constituencies is its right but the call for a long march when the country is going through a crisis situation is not seen as a wise move. At a juncture when our armed forces are fighting terrorists in North Waziristan in addition to protecting our borders, this long march will not be seen as a good move by the PTI. The PTI, emerging in the 2013 elections as the third major political party of Pakistan, should act sagaciously instead of trying to attain power through unconstitutional means. In recent history, on the issue of an operation against the Taliban, Imran Khan categorically urged the government to go for dialogue. One is surprised that, in contrast, he himself is not ready to come to the negotiations table.
The government and opposition parties are all asking to sit together and resolve the issue. Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, while speaking to the National Security Conference on August 9, 2014, said that he was ready to talk to Imran Khan about all his demands. The PM said, “The country cannot afford political confrontation. Imran Khan should sit with us, and we are ready to go for talks on recounting.” Now it is Imran Khan’s turn. He should show some graciousness and come to the negotiations table to talk about all issues instead of playing protest politics.
At this critical time, it is the need of the hour that all political parties shun their differences and become united in the larger interests of Pakistan. One hopes that rationality will prevail and all political stakeholders will come to the negotiations table to resolve their issues. Pakistan, which is already a fragile state, cannot bear another political disaster.
The writer works as a media and public relations officer with the National Accountability Bureau. He tweets @irfanchaudhri and can be reached at [email protected]
Note: The views presented in the article are writer’s own and do not represent his organisation