Moving towards a big showdown: Shafaqna Special

by Tauqeer Abbas
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Finally the Multan rally took place amid arrests, accusations and threats. However, It is difficult to say who emerged as the winner after the PDM managed to rather successfully hold its rally in Multan. The government was able to prevent the rally from taking place inside the stadium, where it was originally planned for it to be held. Instead, the rally was diverted to the Ghanta Ghar Chowk in Multan city. It was indeed a successful rally. 

The PDM’s success has raised its confidence while it has created doubts about the government’s ability to stop the Lahore rally scheduled for December 13 and the subsequent march on Islamabad. The need for talks is in the air now. Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who has so far been predicting the break-up of the PML(N) has suddenly started advising the opposition leaders to enter into dialogue with the government to steer the country out of the political impasse.

Multan’s was the fifth of a total of six public gatherings in build-up to a ‘long march’ to the federal capital designed to topple the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan. While Lahore is to be the venue of the next political duel, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the PDM head, has announced nationwide protests on coming Friday and Sunday. And it will definitely give a tough time to the incumbent PTI government.

Imran Khan’s total administrative experience consisted of leading a cricket team to win the World Cup. His major success story is collecting donations for a first-class cancer hospital run by a dedicated team of professionals. Mr Khan misled many by maintaining that the most important hurdle in the country’s progress were corrupt politicians. Once they were in jail every problem the country faces would be fixed by him. With him as Prime Minister, patriotic expatriates would send home of millions of dollars, enough to run the country.

Once in power, Mr Khan has tried to run the country, which is much more complex than a cancer hospital, through unelected advisers presented as the best specialists in their field. After two and a half years of the persecution of politicians, the country faces the worst economic situation due to lack of competence on Mr Khan’s part. This has implications for national defence also. All the opposition parties are willing to hold talks, albeit with the powers that be, with one condition. The country has to be run strictly in accordance with the Constitution, with no institution transgressing into another’s turf.

The government must look to step back from its tactic of consistently painting the opposition as a villainous entity. The ruling party must also be willing to listen to legitimate grievances where possible. Cooperation will soon follow if both sides actually want it.

Shafaqna Pakistan

pakistan.shafaqna.com

 

 

 

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