AS the country is headed towards an intensified political confrontation and tension, there are reports of contacts between the Government and the PTI aimed at defusing the situation for the sake of peace and stability. This is a saner approach and one hopes sincere efforts will be made by the two sides to sort out their differences as violent protest and use of force could complicate the situation further and no one will emerge as winner.
The PTI might have legitimate grievances and the Government’s insistence to ensure writ of the State is also understandable but the way the two sides are trying to address the situation is far from satisfactory. We have been emphasizing in these columns, time and again, that people of Pakistan are fed up with the unending political instability, violent politics, blocking of roads and suspension of Internet and transport systems. For the common man, price-hike, unemployment, poverty and disease are the main problems and people want the federal and provincial governments to focus on policies and programmes directed towards resolution of these issues. However, the focus of the government distracts from people-centric policies whenever there is law and order situation in the country. The Government and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) try their level best to attract foreign investment in various sectors of the national economy but it is quite obvious that success of these efforts is deeply linked to peace, tranquillity, stability and continuity.
Barring a genuine breakthrough, the way the two sides are flexing their muscles could lead to a catastrophic situation on November 24 as the PTI has given a call for ‘do or die’ for acceptance of its demands. The party claims thousands of its workers have already made their way to Islamabad for a strong protest and sit-down for an indefinite period. The Government is also devising its strategy to deal with the situation and additional security personnel have been requisitioned for the federal capital in view of the emerging situation. There will be nothing wrong if the protest remains peaceful and within the bounds of the law and the Constitution but the very phraseology of ‘do or die’ imply something negative. The party says its workers, converging on Islamabad from all directions, will stay put until its demands are met, which seems to be a remote possibility in view of the nature of the demands. The party wants restoration of its ‘mandate’, which it believes was stolen in February general elections; release of all political prisoners including founding chairman Imran Khan; and reversal of the 26th amendment in the Constitution. It is quite obvious that the incumbent Government has its own version of the situation and is unlikely to give any major concession to the PTI as far as these three demands are concerned. There is hardly any possibility of agreeing to hold fresh elections so soon; PTI leaders are facing cases in courts of law on different charges including May 09 violence and the 26th amendment has already become a reality. These extreme positions are not easy to reconcile sans flexibility and political maturity, which demands a sincere dialogue on relevant issues. Both the Government and the PTI should review their strategy and avoid a show down as prolongation of the protest and defensive measures could take a heavy toll on the economy, disrupt normal life of citizens and deprive the ordinary soul of the opportunity to earn wages. There are also issues of sustainability of an extended protest and counter strategy by the Government. Political forces demonstrated their inherent capability to resolve complicated issues like the 26th amendment and they can deliver in the event of a sincere dialogue in the spirit of give and take.
