THE Federal Capital is likely to see tumultuous developments in coming days and weeks as PTI leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced his much-talked-about long march in Islamabad on March 25 against what he dubbed as ‘imported government’.
Addressing a news conference along with senior leadership of the party in Peshawar, Imran said he himself would lead a rally from Peshawar and asked his supporters to converge at Srinagar Highway in the capital in the afternoon.
Irrespective of the veracity of the allegations that the ousted Prime Minister has been leveling against his political opponents, he and his party are entitled to agitate things while remaining strictly within the bounds of the Constitution and the law.
There is no bar on peaceful protests but there is absolutely no room or justification to paralyze normal life or inflict losses on the already fragile economy through pressure or violent tactics.
Imran Khan has held out a public assurance that his party would remain peaceful but the party acted quite opposite during 2014 long march/sit-in when physical attacks were mounted on state institutions including parliament, PM House and PTV Headquarters besides pitched battles with the personnel of law-enforcing agencies.
The party leadership was booked under terrorism charges and got rid of the case during its rule.
As against this, Maulana Fazlur Rehman organized two more impressive long marches than those of PTI but the participants remained fully peaceful and he restricted his gathering to agreed places.
Similarly, both PPP and PML(N) also organized long marches before the no-confidence motion that remained peaceful and orderly, setting healthy traditions.
Initial announcement of PTI indicates the march would be converted into a sit-in at Srinagar Highway and if no deviations take place, the Government would have no problem with the gathering or protestors irrespective of their numbers.
However, there are clear indications that Imran Khan is in a haste to make this mega event ‘fruitful’ at the earliest and one has to see what strategy he adopts to try to get the desired results.
Some political analysts believe PTI already demonstrated undue haste in announcing the date for the long march as political and economic developments in the country were forcing observers to conclude that the country was moving towards dissolution of the National Assembly, formation of an interim government and early elections.
Something concrete in this regard was expected after May 25 when ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are due to conclude but now the unity government would not be able to make any decision on the issue as this would be seen as succumbing to pressure tactics, which could have political consequences for the coalition parties.
The Government will have no problem with the duration of the sit-in provided it remains peaceful and no disruption is caused to the working of the Government or routine life but the urge to get early results could change things both for Imran Khan and the Government.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Sunday warned the PTI of action if its protesters were to march towards Islamabad with the “intent to cause anarchy”, adding, however, that the final decision in this regard will be taken jointly with the help of coalition partners.
Any resort to violence and use of force by law-enforcing agencies could trigger violence in other parts of the country due to deeper polarization and extreme views held by the political opponents.
It is the responsibility of the organizers to ensure that the participants bear no arms and they must not be provoked for violent tactics.
There are, however, question marks whether or not PTI would be able to organize an impressive and sustained show without the lifelines that existed during 2014.
No doubt, so far, PTI has been successful in building political pressure against the incumbent government through its constantly changing narrative but violent politics could change the entire landscape of the country.
PTI is averse to talking to political opponents, who are part and parcel of the system, but in the given situation only dialogue and engagement could produce mutually agreeable solution to the prevailing deadlock.
PTI should actively cooperate both inside and outside Parliament for bringing about consensus electoral reforms and the Government should then demonstrate flexibility in its position on holding fresh elections at an early date.
