Destination Raiwind: To march or not to march: PTI in a bind
Imran’s solo decision lands party in a tight spot
Imran’s solo decision lands party in a tight spot. PHOTO: IMRAN KHAN OFFICIAL/FACEBOOK
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s plan to march to Raiwind – the palatial housing complex of the ruling Sharif family near Lahore – is running out of steam even before it gets off the block following a lukewarm response from other opposition parties.
The problems apparently stem from Imran Khan’s solo decision to announce the date for the decisive march against the government without consulting the combined opposition, which otherwise endorses his demand for an independent inquiry into the Panama leaks.
Earlier this week, Imran announced that he would lead thousands of supporters to Raiwind on September 24 to force the ruling party into initiating investigations into the massive tax evasion scandal.
Though the PTI has yet to formally invite the opposition parties, Imran dropped a hint on Thursday that the date and venue of the protest rally could be changed after consultation with likeminded parties.
The party’s senior leadership will meet today (Friday) not only to discuss the proposed date but also to think over changing the venue as Raiwind has not received much appreciation from the opposition.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was the first to reject the idea of staging a rally in Raiwind. Others, except the Dr Tahirul Qadri-led Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), are not too sure about joining the march.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) – a coalition partner of the PTI in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government – is one of them. “They [PTI] did not participate in our sit-in today,” Liaquat Baloch complained when asked about his party’s position on joining the Raiwind march. The politico-religious party staged a sit-in in Islamabad on Thursday to protest against the execution of senior Jamaat leaders in Bangladesh.
Liaquat confirmed the PTI had yet to approach the JI to join its march to Raiwind. The opposition parties, he said, were making individual efforts on Panama leaks and did not have a joint platform.
PML-Q’s Pervaiz Elahi said his party would not join the Raiwind march. “[Marching towards houses of political leaders] is not a good tradition,” he said while talking to the media after attending a PAC meeting. The younger Chaudhry from Gujrat instead asked the PTI to consult opposition groups over the formation of a united front against the rulers.
Senator Farhatullah Babar from the Pakistan Peoples Party also said the PTI did not consult the party for the planned march to Sharifs’ residence. He said the PTI chief had announced the date on his own and was now looking for the opposition’s support and talking about taking the entire opposition along.
The PPP might not join the march, though the final decision about joining the march would be taken by the top leaders, Babar said.
PAT’s Khurram Nawaz Gundapur said the PTI had not formally invited the party for the rally. “We will take the decision keeping in view the purpose [to be told by the PTI],” he added.
Gundapur took exception to the PML-N leaders’ statements against Raiwind march, saying that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself led a rally to Choi Zaren, the village of late president Farooq Leghari. “How can they preach us morality now?” he questioned.
PTI Vice-President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, however, negated the impression Imran’s party was rethinking over the Raiwind rally due to the opposition’s cold-shoulder treatment. “We have told the opposition that we can make changes with regard to date of the march,” he claimed.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2016.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s plan to march to Raiwind – the palatial housing complex of the ruling Sharif family near Lahore – is running out of steam even before it gets off the block following a lukewarm response from other opposition parties.
The problems apparently stem from Imran Khan’s solo decision to announce the date for the decisive march against the government without consulting the combined opposition, which otherwise endorses his demand for an independent inquiry into the Panama leaks.
Earlier this week, Imran announced that he would lead thousands of supporters to Raiwind on September 24 to force the ruling party into initiating investigations into the massive tax evasion scandal.
Though the PTI has yet to formally invite the opposition parties, Imran dropped a hint on Thursday that the date and venue of the protest rally could be changed after consultation with likeminded parties.
The party’s senior leadership will meet today (Friday) not only to discuss the proposed date but also to think over changing the venue as Raiwind has not received much appreciation from the opposition.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was the first to reject the idea of staging a rally in Raiwind. Others, except the Dr Tahirul Qadri-led Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), are not too sure about joining the march.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) – a coalition partner of the PTI in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government – is one of them. “They [PTI] did not participate in our sit-in today,” Liaquat Baloch complained when asked about his party’s position on joining the Raiwind march. The politico-religious party staged a sit-in in Islamabad on Thursday to protest against the execution of senior Jamaat leaders in Bangladesh.
Liaquat confirmed the PTI had yet to approach the JI to join its march to Raiwind. The opposition parties, he said, were making individual efforts on Panama leaks and did not have a joint platform.
PML-Q’s Pervaiz Elahi said his party would not join the Raiwind march. “[Marching towards houses of political leaders] is not a good tradition,” he said while talking to the media after attending a PAC meeting. The younger Chaudhry from Gujrat instead asked the PTI to consult opposition groups over the formation of a united front against the rulers.
Senator Farhatullah Babar from the Pakistan Peoples Party also said the PTI did not consult the party for the planned march to Sharifs’ residence. He said the PTI chief had announced the date on his own and was now looking for the opposition’s support and talking about taking the entire opposition along.
The PPP might not join the march, though the final decision about joining the march would be taken by the top leaders, Babar said.
PAT’s Khurram Nawaz Gundapur said the PTI had not formally invited the party for the rally. “We will take the decision keeping in view the purpose [to be told by the PTI],” he added.
Gundapur took exception to the PML-N leaders’ statements against Raiwind march, saying that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself led a rally to Choi Zaren, the village of late president Farooq Leghari. “How can they preach us morality now?” he questioned.
PTI Vice-President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, however, negated the impression Imran’s party was rethinking over the Raiwind rally due to the opposition’s cold-shoulder treatment. “We have told the opposition that we can make changes with regard to date of the march,” he claimed.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2016.