IMRAN Khan the incarcerated founder of the PTI issued a final call for a protest movement starting on the 24th of November. The PTI juggernaut led by the CM KPK Ali Amin Gandapur and the former first lady Bushra Bibi arrived in Islamabad after dismantling all the impediments placed by the Govt. to demand the release of their leader and were urged by Bushra Bibi to stay in place until their leader is released. Within 24 hours of the arrival of the PTI workers the Govt.
Launched a massive crack down and this operation was started after a complete power blackout in the centre of Islamabad just a few kilometres from the Famous D-Chowk home to many Govt. buildings and installations. Minutes before the crackdown Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur bolted for the safe haven of their home province of KPK. Security forces used tear gas on a large scale to disperse the crowds but the PTI leaders came out with allegations of firing and the death of according to some PTI leaders hundreds of their workers.
The Govt has denied these allegations and ironically the top leadership of the PTI such as Barrister Gauhar, Barrister Saif, Latif Khosa, Murad Saeed, Babur Awan, Sher Afzal Marwat, Salman Akram Raja and the top provincial leaders of Punjab and Sindh were nowhere to be seen, the entire exercise was choreographed by Bushra Bibi and Ali Amin Gandapur.The PTI convoys had moved from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into Islamabad, defying court orders banning their entry into the city, to pressure the government on three demands: reclaiming what the party calls its “stolen mandate” from the February elections, the release of political prisoners including Khan and the reversal of a constitutional amendment granting the government control over judicial appointments.
The so called Final show down between the Govt. and the PTI ended much sooner than expected it has left in its wake some serious questions and unresolved problems. Our society today is extremely polarized and the political divide has deepened to dangerous levels with extremely high tensions. The use of brute force and the severe crackdown on the protesters managed to scatter the protesters that had gathered on the call of their founder but this may be nothing but just a temporary respite for the govt. or another political volcano waiting to erupt at the opportune moment. There are no two opinions about the fact that the PTI failed miserably to achieve its objectives and the way the workers fled shows lack of strategy. Internal differences have erupted within the top leadership that is evident by the exchange of hot words between Bushra Bibi and Salman Akram Raja leading to his resignation from the top post of the party. The Govt behaved in very childish and stupid manner by erecting barricades and filling the city with shipping containers to block the way of the protesters. To add insult to injury mobile phone and internet services were also stopped in the area and such tactics have left a huge question mark on the Govt. and its agencies. The iron clad siege of the capital resulted in isolating the federal capital from rest of the country. Restrictions on the media has resulted in a spate of rumors claiming hundreds of dead by the PTI social media team. The performance of the govt. leaves much to be desired and all this has exposed the Govt. ineptitude shakiness and complete failure to handle the situation in a responsible manner and with political foresight. The use of force was definitely excessive and cruel. Many protesters received wounds and some were even killed the exact number is yet to be determined by the media. Govt. Ministers were jubilant and congratulated themselves on this victory and that was definitely in bad taste. About a thousand demonstrators were arrested and a sweeping crackdown was initiated on party activists all over the country. Mati Ullah Jan a senior and renowned journalist was arrested because he was investigating the death of the protestors. All these knee jerk reactions and vicious actions have damaged the credibility of the Govt.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has called for the “immediate and unconditional release” The Supreme Court Bar association issued a statement condemning “the brutal and reprehensible handling of civilian protesters due to the govt. which resulted in the heavy losses of numerous lives” it went on to suggest “bullets were directly fired on unarmed protesters” Amnesty International has called for “an urgent and transparent investigation into the crackdown” Right now there is an urgent and immediate need to conduct a judicial enquiry and once for all expose the truth regarding the number of casualties because of the govt. crackdown on the protesters.
The PTI leaders have claimed over 300 dead but barrister Gohar has categorically denied this figure and claimed the death of 12 PTI workers and the Govt. sources have denied any deaths except of the police and ranger personnel due to the onslaught of the PTI workers. The economic damage and loss to the country cannot be calculate but is definitely huge. Political conditions in the country are definitely a reason for prospective investors to think again when such violent clashes on the streets are becoming a regular feature. The November demonstration has been crushed but this does not at all mean that political stability has been achieved. The indication by the ruling coalition to dismiss the Govt. of KPK and impose Governor’s rule in the province is another recipe for disaster which will increase tensions and create more problems for the country.
The very idea of dismissing a popularly elected govt. is nothing short of lunacy it will be a severe blow to democracy and a slap in the face of our federal system. This move will damage the Govt. efforts to combat insurgency in the volatile province of KPK where sectarian conflict has already taken the lives of over 100 people in Kurram. In the past the army has always played the role of a neutral arbiter to defuse tensions between warring political parties but this time that does not seem to be happening. Today the need of the hour is to end the present turmoil by engaging in serious and meaningful dialogue and deescalate political tensions in the best interests of the country and nation.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
