Daily Times

It seems that few disappointed quarters in Pakistan are trying to beat the record of Hitler’s Chief Propagandist Joseph Goebbels.

A well-thought-out charge on federal capital in the garb of political protest, led by none other than Chief Minister of KP, has unfolded as a new chapter in the book of misleading narratives. How a protest would remain peaceful; once the CM himself incited party workers to tie a coffin on heads and instructed kins to prepare the graves for the marchers in case they couldn’t return back.

There is a long list of rhetorical claims floated from PTI camp through shadowy key board warriors which later proved blatant lies with in short span of time. Abduction of Bushra Bibi, firing on Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, shifting of former PM Imran Khan from Adiala prison to some unknown facility and above all killings of PTI affiliated workers are few of those lies which were cunningly utilized to stir sensation and hatred against the state apparatus.

Federal capital Islamabad and twin city Rawalpindi remained closed for four days. PTI chose Islamabad to stage the protest with an obvious design to disrupt the normalcy in federal capital. Though, LEAs cleared Islamabad from the violent marchers who violated IHC order, however, PTI is leaving no stone unturned to coverup her crimes with the force of propaganda. According to the available information, the protest group was dispersed in three hours.

Social media propagandists are continuously spitting venom by quoting unverified number of causalities no less than many of hundreds.

Channels reported that protesters quickly escaped from Islamabad. According to the initial claim of the government, 450 protesters were arrested. This unpleasant episode took place in capital when Belarusian President was visiting Pakistan. This event revived the bitter memories of protest call given just prior to the SCO conference. In the past as well, PTI was accused of spoiling the Chinese President’s visit with 126 days long sit-inn during 2014.

The federal government’s behavior is also under criticism as closure of the roads, bridges, businesses and educational institutions across the country is not the right way to tackle the protests. The opposition wanted to close the country and government served the purpose unwittingly. After arresting a few hundred protestors in Islamabad, the government managed to disperse the mob.

Question rightly arises that why government could not stop the mob outside the capital? A clear order of the Islamabad High Court was already issued which barred any sort of protest in federal capital territory. However, government could not avoid the avertable fiasco. Amid political unrest triggered by PTI, life of the public has become miserable.

Many questions are being raised on the dubious stance of PTI leadership. Hollow slogans and suspicious behavior are the trade mark of PTI’s protests. Leadership vacuum created with the arrest of founding chairman is worsening in ranks and files of PTI. CM KP is good in fiery speeches however he lacks the ability to mobilize the masses for violent protests.

Turf war and rifts in PTI have disappointed the sentimental followers. Loud statements and exchange of bitter arguments among the spouse and sisters of former PM are practically denting the PTI’s much talked about narrative against hereditary politics. Contrary to the lofty claims, spouse of former PM has started participating in active politics.

As per media reports and viral social media leaks, she played key role in directing the protesting mob to the D-Chowk in Islamabad. Her irresponsible comments maligning KSA in internal politics of Pakistan were not received well among the saner quarters of the society. Recent audio statement of party veteran Ali Muhammad Khan clearly expressed extreme dissatisfaction among PTI loyalists regarding growing interference of close relatives of founding chairman.

After the flop protest show, PTI is striving hard to trigger hateful sentiments among masses with fabricated allegations. Most of the central leadership of PTI did not turn up to join the protest even in Islamabad. CM KP repeated the bleak history of fleeing from the mid of protest. This time he was accompanied with the spouse of founding chairman as well.

PTI is repeatedly claiming that hundreds of party supporters were killed by the LEAs. One of the ex-PPP loyalists, former governor of Punjab and leading lawyer of PTI claimed that 274 workers were killed. He could not quote the names of the victims.

During press conference, an ex-minister of General Musharraf’s era and central leader of PTI claimed that 12 party workers lost lives. Social media propagandist of the party is continuously spitting venom by quoting unverified number of causalities no less than many of hundreds. Power of propaganda is at its peak with zero accountability of the PTI stalwarts who blatantly violated court orders, pitched the party workers against LEAs and then escaped from the venue.

The writer is a student.