Raiwind march: Differences over venue threaten Opp alliance

Imran reiterates his party will march on Raiwind

LAHORE: Differences over the venue of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) next protest demonstration continue to threaten the opposition parties’ alliance that came into being over Panama Leaks. PTI chief Imran Khan reiterated on Friday that as part of its anti-corruption movement his party would march on Raiwind, where Sharif family’s private residences are located.

Khan had announced on September 3 that the PTI would march on Raiwind after Eidul Azha if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif did not answer his questions relating to his offshore wealth and properties. He had set a date for the march during his visit to Karachi earlier this week. Other opposition parties are sceptical about the wisdom of Khan’s decision. The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), otherwise a staunch opponent of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), says the march on Raiwind will not set a good tradition.

Khan said on Friday that the PTI was not going to march on private residences of prime minister’s family. He said not all of Raiwind was prime minister’s property. He refused to call off the Raiwind march. He announced, however, that he would consult opposition parties on the march date.

An all parties’ conference convened by Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rashid earlier this week has been delayed because of disagreement among opposition parties over the march. Representatives of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), PML-Q, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Sunni Tehreek, Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were scheduled to attend the meeting, which has now been postponed until Eid. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Rashid said there was a growing concern over the march venue. He said the march was being seen as mobbing of the private residences of the Sharif family. He said the PTI was aware of the importance of opposition alliance and it would continue to work with other opposition parties to sort out the differences.

Delegations from the PPP and the PML-Q had taken part in PTI’s rally at Charing in Lahore on September 3. Party insiders say the PTI wants the Raiwind rally to be bigger than the September 3 event. Therefore it wants to take the other opposition parties along, they say.

Keeping in view opposition parties’ concerns, PTI insiders say, a proposal is under consideration to stage the march on Raiwind Road, but not at Adda Plot. They say that Adda Plot is close to Jati Umrah. Therefore opposition parties other than the PTI have reservations about a demonstration there.

The PTI chief has said that the march will be staged before Muharram. Party insiders say this will allow PTI leaders sufficient time to persuade other opposition parties and to mobilise workers. Rashid said there was a lack of consensus even within the party on the rally venue. He said that some party leaders suggested other venues. Former PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry denied that there were differences among party leaders over the venue. He said he did not see any reason for a change in the venue. “The prime minister does not live on Raiwind Road.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2016.