(Rizwan Haider)
Political
uncertainty is on the rise, speculations are the center of talks
regarding the ongoing political turmoil and its outcome. What would be
the climax of Azadi March of Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf and Revolution
March of Pakistan Awami Tehreek. Either the government would show some
flexibility over the harsh demands of protesters or it would end up
tightening the screws of oppositions. Would the government crumble or
survive? In the sacred month of August, Pakistan came into being, is
passing through a chaos all around. Mishandling the reservations of
other political parties by the incumbent government provided the reasons
to the small waves of protests to become very high tides which could
sweep away the elected government.
More
than a year has passed, but demand of PTI for the recounting and
verification of thumb impression of four constituencies was not met; now
they are on the streets with bigger demands. Putting a glance in the
political history of the country, we would end up that Nawaz Sharif was
one of the trend settlers of long marches, on the death anniversary of
dictator Zia-ul-Haq on 17th August, 1989; he headed towards the capital
with at least 1000 buses of participants to reach at the grave of
Zia-ul-Haq, with hidden agenda of political point scoring. Premier of
the time, late Benazir Bhutto after negotiations passed the order to let
the Nawaz Sharif and his followers enter into the capital and no
hurdles were placed on the way of the long march. In 2009, Nawaz Sharif
cleverly took over the leadership of the lawyers’ movement, and started
the long march from Lahore, threatening PPP government in the center.
His long march hardly crossed the Lahore, when he was delivered the
message that his demands were met and he called off the march.
Considering the historic facts, incumbent government should also show
some flexibility and should confer the green signal to the participants
of Azadi March and Revolution March to enter into the capital. Situation
could be worst if the option of using force applied, incident of
killing a dozen workers of PAT in Lahore added fuel to the fires being
lighted by the opposition parties. The Model Town carnage provided the
real strength to PAT Chief. It was a national tragedy which could have
been avoided. The real culprits behind the carnage have not been brought
to justice till now thus leaving more excuses for the PAT to continue
their protests. Extreme statements have been issued by the Chief of PAT
and PTI. Dr Qadri revealed that the government has issued orders of his
assassination calling already angry activists not to spare Sharif family
and ministers in case if he got killed. Similar statements were issued
by Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf that if he would be eliminated by
any means by the government then his activists must not spare the
Shareef brothers.
Considering
the facts any further aggression by the authorities would be a disaster
for the government, democracy and ultimately for the stability of the
country. Cities are being brought to a standstill because of the threat
of demonstrations, containers placed on entry and exit points, fuel
shortages created to ensure people could not travel. On the one hand,
pictures are being floated that women and old people were fled like mice
and scuttled out from under containers, on the other, scuffles between
the protesters and law enforcement agencies. A democratic government
must not take away the right of freedom of speech and expression, right
of peaceful demonstration. Democratic government should not feel that
they can act as they please and that there is no one to curtail them?
How do they believe that they have the right to use state power to
curtail the freedom of association and the peaceful right to protest?
Present government should follow the footsteps of PPP government, the
way they handled the sit-in of PAT in the winter of 2013, they were
allowed to protest in the capital and a stage came Qadri was anxiously
looking for the safe passage to end the sit-in.
