The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s dream to block the country and dislodge the federal government remained fruitless as yesterday this party proved unsuccessful in taking out a sizeable protest rally in Punjab and Islamabad. Though, this party’s show in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, to some extent, was impressive; it had some reasons behind it and also had no impact on disturbing those in Islamabad.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister’s niece led Punjab government with the police successfully averting any possible threat to Islamabad, which KP’s Chief Minister earlier desired about dislodging the federal government. All that happened yesterday was a clear message for PTI to discard its confrontational narrative. It looks like telling the jailed PTI’s leadership to wholeheartedly honor what the KP government’s spokesperson publicly has stated about the PTI’s relationship with the country’s military.
The PTI protested on Friday countrywide against the alleged rigging in the by-polls recently held over 21 national and provincial assembly seats. The ruling party -PMLN- stood victorious over 11 seats out of the total. Ten remaining seats went to all other political parties such as PPP, ANP, SIC, IPP, and BNPM in this bi-poll.
Reiterating to persist until their mandate is reinstated, the PTI supporters came out in several cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, and Islamabad. The protesters carrying party flags demanded Imran Khan and his wife’s release from jail. The protesters wore masks featuring Khan’s love likeness, chanted against the government, and even were reported to have criticized and slammed the Army.
In Islamabad, PTI’s Shoaib Shaheen fronted the protest rally and ended it with his address after the party workers assembled outside his office. According to the police, 500 police personnel were stationed to thwart any instigation, and access to the red zone and road blockage was strictly prohibited. Islamabad police also enforced Section 144 to ban large gatherings before they disturb public order as they did in the past.
In Lahore, the PTI’s local leadership in almost 30 provincial assembly constituencies staged protests. It remained insignificant as the Lahore Police launched an overnight crackdown on ticket holders and workers. The provincial capital police launched action against them detaining as many as 50 protesters in Lahore.
The police in other provincial cities also took action against the PTI supporters and leaders for allegedly blocking roads, and raising slogans against state institutions. In the Gujranwala district, cases were registered against several protesters, including lawmakers of the PTI, over allegedly maligning the state departments.
Rahim Yar Khan witnessed two cases registered against a worker and a lawmaker for similar offenses of blocking roads and shouting slogans against the state institutions. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, party’s Secretary General and leader of the opposition Omar Ayub, Aamir Dogar, Shoaib Shaheen, Ali Bukhari, and Amir Mughal are among 150 people against whom a nominated FIR was registered. These cases include provisions for violating Section 144, clashing with the police, and delivering hateful speeches. In Toba Tek Singh district, a case was registered against eight identified and 15 unidentified protesters. It was lodged under sections relating to the display of arms and road-blocking.
The PTI managed impressive rallies in KP. Just in Peshawar, more than 14 rallies were organized. Even rallies in districts like Dir were also observed to be good. However, arranging a protest in KP was not a big deal where it has a PTI-led government. Similarly, showing strength in Baluchistan was equally easy for this party where both Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Sardar Akhtar Mengal support the PTI. Both of these leaders have sizeable supporters in their province. In the given circumstance, a real challenge for the PTI was to show its strength in Punjab and the federal capital. Here this party couldn’t manage it at all. The importance of Punjab in national politics and to make and break in Islamabad could not be denied. On Friday, the PTI’s show in Punjab looked like a cumin in the mouth of a camel, when compared with the past.
PTI Punjab’s chapter acting President Mian Hammad Azhar said protest demonstrations against rigging and theft of PTI’s mandate in the general elections 2024 were organized in Punjab. He said a large number of party workers participated in these demonstrations and protested against the allegedly fake government. He condemned the arrest of party workers and held Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz responsible. He resolved that the government’s actions could not stop them and affect the morale of PTI workers.
However, what is being perceived for the PTI after remaining unsuccessful in Punjab and Islamabad is that this party should now seriously consider replacing its style of confrontation against the state institutions and government. Instead, the PTI’s leadership should extend a hand for negotiations with the government and the military establishment. Now all the protesting moves of PTI, even in the future, do not look to be successful in getting Imran Khan released from jail. The PTI’s policy to shake hands with the second-tier command of the military while threatening the top commander to get him implicated if something wrong happens to Bushra Bibi is not going to work anymore. The PTI “MUST” realize it.
On the other hand, what the PTI government’s spokesperson in KP has stated should be materialized in the true sense. He says that PTI’s provincial government seeks help from the Army on security-related issues and settles differences with the federal government on the amount that is due of the KP toward Islamabad. The PTI needs to come out of conditionalities and fairly should negotiate with the government. The government is ready as it stated even yesterday, but the game will end with the PTI’s decision. The PTI also needs to advise its leadership to pass responsible statements and stop threatening Islamabad. Hopefully, moving with a positive and lenient approach, especially in this regard could benefit the PTI.
