Daily Times

It is not too complex to comment upon the bad luck of the residents of the capital city, Islamabad, who are once again compelled to experience the ill effects of a protest-cum sit-in. The ill effects are visible in the form of containers blocking more than half of the roads, thus disturbing the traffic flow in Islamabad. The presence of more than the usual number of the police and Ranger personnel, heavily equipped with anti-riot gear while patrolling or resting alongside the roads, portends the outbreak of riot any moment from the protestors assembled in the H-9 sector.

Although it is quite obvious at the moment that the JUI-F leader is not in the mood to march towards the Red Zone or the famous D-Chowk, the chaos would continue to prevail until he calls off the campaign unnecessarily titled as the ‘Azadi March’. Incidentally, the PTI, the pioneer of the sit-in style of politics, is now ruling the country, and is compelled to have a taste of its own medicine. Obviously, the medicine known as a sit-in or a dharna always tastes bitter to the ruling regime. With the change of sides, PTI spokespersons and defenders, have quickly adopted all the arguments that were being used by the PML-N, then ruling party, during the 2014 joint sit-inventure of the PTI and the PAT.

So is the case of the PML-N, which is now standing in the rank and file of the opposition as the leading party with, more or less, 84 seats in the National Assembly. Adoption of an entirely different set of arguments, matching its new position, in the case of the PML-N is understandable, but why have the JUI-F and the PPP reversed their stances while both are still deployed in the same old trenches of the opposition? Let’s recall that in 2014, during the PTI dharna days, it was Aitzaz Ahsan of PPP and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of JUI-F who came forward for the rescue of the PML-N government with their fiery speeches at the floor of parliament, in the name of democracy, and for the sake of the constitution.

Now the JUI-F leader is repeatedly demanding an immediate resignation from the PM, and that too only by gathering a few thousand hardcore party supporters in Islamabad. It is now hard to hide that PPP and PML-N party workers or supporters have neither participated in the ‘Azadi March’ nor are they ready to join in any dharna or D-Chowk misadventure. Verbal claims from the PPP and PML-N about extending moral support and developing political alignment with the JUI-F regarding the ouster of the PM are obvious signs of traditional mischievous politics.

If the toppling of the present government is the ultimate objective of the opposition then why have they not adopted a more straight and effective constitutional option? As per the constitution, resignation of one-third parliamentarians is enough to dissolve the National Assembly. Interestingly the PML-N, the PPP and the MMA hold 84, 55 and 16 seats respectively-155 out of the total 342 seats. Resignation is being demanded from the PM by the opposition on the self-assumed plea that the present government is ‘illegitimate’ being the outcome of a ‘rigged’ election. Hypothetically speaking, if the opposition’s argument of the entire election of being rigged is accepted for a moment, then the Sindh provincial government stands illegitimate too.

The opposition can easily jolt the government by dissolving the Sindh Assembly, followed by the joint resignation of 155 members from the National Assembly. It is the simplest way to topple the government and to reach the destination of fresh elections, provided the opposition honestly desires so. It is interesting as well as disappointing that the opposition, especially the PPP and the PML-N, at this particular moment, are neither interested nor capable enough to contest a new election with full potential. Leadership of both parties is sick and under trial. Their candidates would find it financially difficult to spend twenty to thirty crores on a new election campaign with a little break of eighteen to twenty months, that too without any ‘significant recovery’ amid a tight accountability drive.

Hypothetically speaking, if the opposition’s argument of the entire election of being rigged is accepted for a moment, then the Sindh provincial government stands illegitimate too

Most obviously, demands for fresh elections are usual political bluff, which primarily aim at softening the government by pushing it on back foot, thus gaining temporary relief from accountability in the first place. Political coercion and discrediting the PTI in the eyes of voters may be another understandable objective of the recent protest/adventure. Leaving aside political objectives of the opposition and the ruling benches, sane minds confront a greater disappointment once flag bearers of constitutional democracy persistently pursue political objectives through unconstitutional means. A peaceful protest is a basic right guaranteed by the constitution, which must not be denied to any party or citizen. But there has to be a valid reason as well as a suitable environment to use a sensitive right like a massive protest or a sit-in that potentially affects millions of citizens. If protestors have a right then all those affected by the protest too have universally acknowledged constitutional rights such as free movement, association and speech.

Closure of internet service in the surroundings of the H-9 sector and placing of containers on busy roads are unwise measures that affect the public in Islamabad. The twin cities experienced worse difficulties during the TLP sit-in at Faizabad. This venomous tendency of misusing constitutional rights by political parties and pressure groups needs to be treated well and proper.

Having understood the reality of the Azadi March and the hidden objectives of the opposition parties, one is logically compelled to assess the unsuitability of the prevailing environment for such political misadventures. Who can deny that the so-called Azadi March placed the Kashmir issue on the back burner, diverted the attention of the government from Indian aggression to internal firefighting, wittingly or unwittingly provided enough relief to the Modi government on the IoK front, multiplied political chaos by putting an invisible pause on economic revival efforts, and exploited inflammable religious cards such as Khatm-e-Nabuvat and blasphemy and anti-Israel emotionalism?

It is a well-deserved experience for the government to have a taste of its own medicine, especially since some of the foulmouthed cabinet members are still determined to spoil the situation by preferring useless verbosity to a purposeful dialogue. But it is really unfortunate for the residents of the capital city to bear the ill effects of political foul play of unwise leaders. Political polarisation is more disappointing for all sane minds who expect a consensus based response of all stakeholders on serious national matters like the Kashmir issue, Indian multi-directional anti-Pakistan maneuvering, Afghan unrest, and economic revival.

The writer is a freelance columnist