THERE are indications that the Government is firm on its resolve to take the issue of repeated attacks on the Federal Capital to the logical conclusion as a multi-faceted approach is being applied to prevent and discourage recurrence of what happened at D-Chowk recently. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a task force, chaired by Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi, to identify the suspects allegedly involved in the violence in Islamabad during the PTI rally earlier this week and take strict action against them. It has also been decided to establish a dedicated force to deal with riots in future and a Federal Forensic Lab, where modern technology and methods would be used to investigate and collect evidence of riots. The participants agreed that the Islamabad Safe City project would also be modernized, while the federal prosecution service would be strengthened.
The latest protest of the PTI and its unexpected climax has sparked a nationwide debate about violent politics, its impact on individual and national life, loss of precious lives of both personnel of law-enforcing agencies and ordinary souls and the jolts to political and economic stability. It is a long standing desire and demand of the peace-loving citizens that violent protests and attempts aimed at disrupting normal life must come to an end. However, some vested interests keep on testing the patience of both the Government and the common man by repeatedly engaging in pressure tactics for acceptance of their demands. Apart from some political parties, different pressure groups and even aggrieved groups frequently stage sit-ins and block roads, highways and major crossings making mockery of the writ of the State. In this backdrop, the decision of the Prime Minister to constitute a high level task force to identify suspects behind the violence and take strict action against them is a step in the right direction. Collection of necessary evidence and initiation of legal action against them might help discourage such tendencies in future.
Peaceful protests and marches are legitimate tools to press for demands in a democratic polity but the tendency to use such gatherings for removal of a Government gained currency from 2014 onwards when the longest ever sit-in of the history of the country was held at D-Chowk. Later, different religious and political entities organized rallies and sit-ins to pressurize the governments of the day. It is the legal responsibility of the personnel of law-enforcing agencies to protect lives and properties of the peaceful citizens and, therefore, those targeting law-enforcers must be taken to task. In this age of social media and communication gadgets, reliable evidence can be gathered against criminals but for this to happen a difference will have to be made between fake news/videos and fact and the proposed Federal Forensic Lab might help realize this objective. Islamabad Safe City project, in the present form, is a sheer burden on the national exchequer and its modernization might make it relevant and useful in tracking law-breakers. A debate is also going on about the number of casualties during the crackdown against participants of the PTI protest at D-Chowk. The Government maintains the number quoted in social media is highly exaggerated but even ministers are acknowledging a few casualties. This aspect also needs to be probed to counter propaganda and determine the causes of casualties. The party ought to review its strategy and policies that push it towards confrontation with the Government. An internal debate is going on in the party about mishandling of the latest protest, which took place despite a clear order of the Islamabad High Court disallowing the rally and the sit-in and should lead to genuine soul-searching.
