Salahuddin Haider
FOREIGN policies pursued by the government has rare place for itself in the world, but domestic failures have been far too many, which places it to face a real test during the last over two years of its existence in power with the opposition campaign starting from tomorrow.
A coloumnist felt that Friday’s show could go either way. PML (N)’s Punjab president Qamar Zaman Kaira would lead a caravan from Kasur, Rana Sanaullah from Faisalabad, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi from Rawalpindi and Maryam Nawaz from Lahore. That means that all roads will be heading for Gujranwala, the venue from where the opposition anti-government campaign will be the starting point, followed by Karachi on Sunday 18th October.
The opposition rallies could go either way. The question is whether the opposition could mobilise the people in real strength.
In the view of some analysts money can play a vital role. Buses, vans, cars, motor cycles, will form the caravans. In karachi Baghe Jinnah has been chosen at the venue for the opposition rally. But the government insists on SOPs , like social distancing , covering faces with masks to prevent corona virus from re-emerging to pose another threats to public life, but whether such a practice would be practically possible in political crowds is difficult to predict.
The government’s concern is genuine. One can only hope that the opposition leaders take precautions to protect people from threats to public life. The government machinery like deputy commissioners, additional commissioners have been trying to emphasise this point to opposition leaders, but so far their efforts met little success.
The Jinnah park in Gujranwala could be the main venue, but the opposition has threatened to us GT road for protests and sit-ins should the venue they demand is denied. In Pakistan Jinnah Bagh can easily be allowed because of the PPP being in power in Sindh. Prime minister Imran Khan has been issuing orders to bring prices of wheat flour and sugar, of vegetables in control but there seems to be resistance from business leaders, and administration officials who seem hell bent to be on side of the opposition. Officials confirm that some 2,40,000 tons of wheat has been held up in Port Qasim because of prices they have been demanding. OOvr 100 trucks are awaiting to be loaded with wheat for supply to markets. I this a conspiracy? The Government to fiind out.
Meanwhile at external policies were presented in commanding for by national security adviser Moyeed Yusuf in a cross-border video link interview with eminent compere Karan Thapar. Moyeed made it clear that dialogue with India could start forthwith provided the agenda includes Kashmir and terrorism. He cited the presence of Daish in Afghanistan which Nirder Modi government has been exploiting to support terrorism against Pakistan. Pakistan has been taking keen interest in ensuring peace in Kabul, its efforts appreciated by America, which wants to withdraw its 8000 troops by December. But Daish, taking refuge in Afghanistan’ deserts and mountains after being hounded out from Syria because of joint pressure from Russia and Iran. However there are some weaknesses felt in execution of foreign policies by Pakistan foreign office.
Shah Mehmud Qureshi should have toured the world to present Pakistan’s viewpoint to the world through personal meeting instead of confining to telephone talks with his counterparts. Personal meetings carry greater force. Projection of country’s view point to world leader through personal meetings demanded much to be desired. The Indian foreign minister Jagan Nath visited 41 countries to express Indian stand of Delhi’s decision to invoke Article 370 and 35-A. Pakistan’s cas lacked onviction, many and experts feel.
