Hawks in PML-N had the last laugh
Punjab chapter which favoured the use of force to deter PTI supporters from reaching the capital on Nov 2
PHOTO: ONLINE
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was initially divided on the use of force to thwart rival PTI’s dharna, but in the end it was the hawkish Punjab chapter of the ruling party that prevailed, insiders told The Express Tribune.
The central leadership, which was initially opposed to confrontation, is now said to be supporting coercive tactics, stoking fears of a possible collision on Nov 2 — the day Imran Khan has promised to lock down the federal capital.
Islamabad protest will be held at any cost: Imran Khan
Sources said the PML-N central leadership, led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, heeded the ‘suggestion’ of the party’s powerful Punjab chapter which favoured the use of force to deter PTI supporters from reaching the capital on Nov 2. “It was less of a suggestion and more of a demand,” one source added.
Reportedly, hawks in the PML-N Punjab chapter, including Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah and Zaeem Qadri, believe the party’s central chapter had failed to aggressively handle PTI protesters back in 2014, which allowed them to prolong their dharna in the capital.
“The protesters managed to stay in Islamabad for more than four months. That’s a crying shame for the government. If such a sit-in had happened in Lahore, it would have not taken us more than a week to smash it,” a senior N-Leaguer told The Express Tribune while summing up the Punjab chapter’s stance.
Some central leaders, especially Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Hanif Abbasi, did not support the Punjab chapter’s stance, sources said. Raja Zafarul Haq, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and others also opposed the collision course initially.
After Monday’s carnage in Quetta, the PML-N deliberated on taking stringent measures against the PTI on the pretext of ensuring foolproof security in the capital. “The leadership thought it was a godsend to implement the Punjab chapter’s policy,” one insider said.
The government also used a decision of the Islamabad High Court as a cover to take preemptive measures against PTI’s dharna plans.
“They resorted to provocation by unleashing violence on peaceful protesters. If they want confrontation, they’ll have it,” K-P Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani told The Express Tribune. “How a few hundred policemen of the capital will stop sea of PTI supporters on Nov 2?”
He said Premier Sharif would have never addressed a public rally in Kohat without the consent of the provincial government. “Remember, Kohat is in K-P, our stronghold. Had it not been for us, he would have never been able to address a gathering there? And they say they would not facilitate the K-P chief minister in Islamabad.”
Will show PM Nawaz what democracy is on Nov 2: Imran Khan
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah denied the use of force was a pre-planned move. “In a confrontational atmosphere, the situation keeps unfolding and decisions have to be taken accordingly. When you violate Section 144 and hold a convention without prior approval of the administration, you should not be complaining when you are ‘disciplined.’
Asked about PML-N’s policy on the Nov 2 dharna, he said: “Provocation would not go unpunished. If they do not mend their ways, the state machinery will swing into action.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2016.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz was initially divided on the use of force to thwart rival PTI’s dharna, but in the end it was the hawkish Punjab chapter of the ruling party that prevailed, insiders told The Express Tribune.
The central leadership, which was initially opposed to confrontation, is now said to be supporting coercive tactics, stoking fears of a possible collision on Nov 2 — the day Imran Khan has promised to lock down the federal capital.
Islamabad protest will be held at any cost: Imran Khan
Sources said the PML-N central leadership, led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, heeded the ‘suggestion’ of the party’s powerful Punjab chapter which favoured the use of force to deter PTI supporters from reaching the capital on Nov 2. “It was less of a suggestion and more of a demand,” one source added.
Reportedly, hawks in the PML-N Punjab chapter, including Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah and Zaeem Qadri, believe the party’s central chapter had failed to aggressively handle PTI protesters back in 2014, which allowed them to prolong their dharna in the capital.
“The protesters managed to stay in Islamabad for more than four months. That’s a crying shame for the government. If such a sit-in had happened in Lahore, it would have not taken us more than a week to smash it,” a senior N-Leaguer told The Express Tribune while summing up the Punjab chapter’s stance.
Some central leaders, especially Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Hanif Abbasi, did not support the Punjab chapter’s stance, sources said. Raja Zafarul Haq, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and others also opposed the collision course initially.
After Monday’s carnage in Quetta, the PML-N deliberated on taking stringent measures against the PTI on the pretext of ensuring foolproof security in the capital. “The leadership thought it was a godsend to implement the Punjab chapter’s policy,” one insider said.
The government also used a decision of the Islamabad High Court as a cover to take preemptive measures against PTI’s dharna plans.
“They resorted to provocation by unleashing violence on peaceful protesters. If they want confrontation, they’ll have it,” K-P Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani told The Express Tribune. “How a few hundred policemen of the capital will stop sea of PTI supporters on Nov 2?”
He said Premier Sharif would have never addressed a public rally in Kohat without the consent of the provincial government. “Remember, Kohat is in K-P, our stronghold. Had it not been for us, he would have never been able to address a gathering there? And they say they would not facilitate the K-P chief minister in Islamabad.”
Will show PM Nawaz what democracy is on Nov 2: Imran Khan
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah denied the use of force was a pre-planned move. “In a confrontational atmosphere, the situation keeps unfolding and decisions have to be taken accordingly. When you violate Section 144 and hold a convention without prior approval of the administration, you should not be complaining when you are ‘disciplined.’
Asked about PML-N’s policy on the Nov 2 dharna, he said: “Provocation would not go unpunished. If they do not mend their ways, the state machinery will swing into action.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2016.