Opposition’s protest

Government efforts to deal with the upcoming opposition protest led by the JUI-F continue — both through negotiations as well as through administrative measures to thwart the threat of an intended lockdown of the federal capital. The Red Zone in the capital city has been blocked off with containers and barbed wires, water cannons have been readied, and riot-gear police alerted — as October 27, the day the anti-government protest is programmed to start, looms. Besides, steps are afoot to restrict supporters of the movement, the JUI-F workers in particular, in other parts of the country.

The talks option, however, doesn’t seem to be working in a manner the government may have desired. In what is reflective of the heat that is reaching the power corridors, the government has accepted a key pre-condition set by the opposition for the talks to start. On Monday, the opposition had made it clear that the option of negotiations is subject to the government permission for a peaceful ‘Azadi March’ on October 27. And according to a brief statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday, the government has allowed the opposition to go ahead with its protest march “as long as the everyday life of citizens is not adversely affected, as outlined by past judgments of the Supreme Court and the Islamabad High Court”.

The government’s permission clearly means that there will be no talks before the protest — something that shows its helplessness to quell the challenge in time. The government is understood to know full well that the situation could snowball, given its growing dislike among the various groups of professionals like doctors, lawyers and teachers — and more significantly traders. But it appears to have no solution at hand right now other than expecting the opposition protesters to disperse peacefully after the march, as agreed. However, even if that happens, the ‘Azadi March’ could set the ball rolling against the government. The only solution for the government is to deliver, especially with regard to the economy. Has the PM forgotten that during his cricket days, he would let his props — bat and ball — do the talking?

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2019.

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