Blunder or purposeful intent

Letter November 19, 2017
The government should not have delayed action against the protesters

KARACHI: It has been two days since the Islamabad High Court passed the order to clear the site of the protest in the capital city, but the reluctance on the part of the federal government to take any stern action has only emboldened the protesters. The most likely reaction after the reversal of the amendment and the apologies issued was to regard it as a blunder. The government should not have delayed action against the protesters. Now the interior minister who is engaged in negotiations with representatives of the protesters to settle the issue amicably.

However, considering that initially Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had implied that the culprit in the matter must resign or should be sacked strongly pointed towards the aspect of the mistake being deliberately made. For whatever reasons, it seems that there is clear disagreement within the PML-N itself over the issue. One cannot help conclude that there is more to the issue then what meets the eye.

Saad Hamid

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19th, 2017.

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