Daily Times

The government’s heavy-handed approach to counter Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) planned protest on November 24 is a glaring example of how reactive governance stifles democracy. The chosen path of federal and Punjab governments to barricade cities will only disrupt transportation and enforce draconian measures under the guise of maintaining ‘law and order’.

Never in Pakistan’s poliriased political history was witnessed the announced closure of motorways. The National Highways and Motorways Authority’s abrupt decision to close major motorways – including M-1, M-2, M-3, and others – citing road maintenance is a laughing excuse. These closures, effective from Friday night, will affect transportation, disrupt commerce and create chaos for thousands of travelers. Islamabad Transport Authority has ordered the shutdown of all city transport hubs. Such decisions not only inconvenience the public but also reflect the state’s inability to manage dissent without resorting to authoritarian measures.

What is more concerning is the war-time style evacuation of student hostels in the federal capital. Meanwhile, the imposition of Section 144 across Punjab in effect from November 23 to November 25, is bound to draw outrage. The troubling trend of silencing voices should be discouraged. The federal capital has already been under Section 144 since November 18.

While Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi insists that Islamabad High Court’s order prohibits protests in the federal capital, government spokespersons show no sign of willingness to engage with the opposition. Mr Naqvi’s remarks that “there will be no dialogue with those attempting a siege” further cement the administration’s rigid stance.

This confrontational approach comes at a time when the country needs unity, not division. The government’s obsession with barricades-both literal and metaphorical-shows a lack of faith in democratic principles. Dialogue, not disruption, is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. The PTI’s demands, whether deemed reasonable or not, deserve to be addressed at the negotiating table, not with roadblocks and blanket bans.

The government should extend a hand of dialogue and not creating bottlenecks on highways and suppressing dissent. If the government take the moral high ground by initiating meaningful talks with the opposition, it will benefit both the economy and the state. *