What’s the harm if Imran Khan is permitted to stage a long march, do a sit-in for a few days and then disperse?
JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: The real issues Pakistan is facing today are power shortages, terrorism, religious intolerance towards minorities, and the overall security situation vis-à-vis the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.
However, if one were to consider the statements and priorities of some of our leading politicians, the main challenges are the so-called Green Revolution and Azadi March to dislodge an elected government.
Apparently we are stuck between two groups — the first sees nothing beyond its egotistical nose and wants to deal with any real opposition with a heavy hand, and the other which has many first-time MPs and still believes in sorting out disputes on the streets rather than inside parliament. Surely, at a time when a crucial operation against militants in underway the country should be spared of any political instability. Not only is this unwanted from a domestic audience point of view, it also sends the wrong signal to the rest of the world, including any would-be foreign investor.
That said, it would be fair to say that the nervousness of the federal and Punjab governments has converted a routine long march into a potential revolution/crisis for the government. On a related note, why is the army being called in to take charge of security duties in Islamabad?
What’s the harm if Imran Khan is permitted to stage a long march, do a sit-in for a few days and then disperse? Similarly, the government should take back its order of calling in the army and allow the police and civil administration to handle the political protests.
Let’s hope see that better sense prevails.
Masood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2014.
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