PML (N) has apparently disapproved the next phase of anti-Government protest announced by its erstwhile ally JUI(F), which is scheduled to hold a convention in Karachi on February 23, a national convention in Islamabad on March 1 and Azadi March in Lahore on March 19 as part of its campaign aimed at dislodging the Government and building pressure for fresh elections. Party leader Sanaullah, while clarifying the position of PML(N) on the issue, maintained that any protest launched without taking all opposition parties onboard would be a “big mistake”.
Contrary to what JUI(F) has publicly been claiming about success of its earlier protest campaign that revolved around ‘Azadi March’ and Islamabad sit-in, the latest announcement of the Party about fresh agitation and remarks of some opposition leaders clearly show that the previous attempt was a failure. Rana Sanaullah is on record having said twice that the anti-Government movement of JUI(F) failed as Maulana Fazlur Rehman preferred a solo flight as far as the date of the March was concerned. If JUI(F) could not get anything substantial in its first attempt then there are reasons to believe that it would not get anything worthwhile by launching another movement in the prevailing political environment when the Opposition is clearly divided. The division became evident during voting on the law relating to extension in the service of the Army Chief when two major opposition parties – PML(N) and PPP – opted to vote for and JUI(F) decided to oppose it. Later, JUI(F) formally parted ways with the two parties by forming a six-party alliance, complaining that PML(N) and PPP did not take the opposition parties into confidence over their strategy on the Bill. Though JUI(F) has the street power to build pressure on the Government but other factors are not favouring its plan of agitation and, therefore, it would hardly serve any purpose than creating fissures in the national life and adding to political uncertainty. We have been emphasizing in these columns that it is both right and responsibility of the Opposition to keep a check on the performance of the Government and pinpoint its short-comings and failures but criticism and agitation must remain within the bounds of law and the Constitution. Despite frantic efforts by the Government, the country has so far not been able to tackle its economic and financial challenges, which require stability and peaceful environment to address them satisfactorily. Instead of creating political uncertainty, the Opposition ought to focus on issues of price-hike, unemployment and rising street crimes that concern the people most.
