Political turmoil: The eventful year of long marches

The federal capital saw four major long marches as stench of tear gas clouded power struggles

ISLAMABAD:

It would be safe to say that the year 2022 would go down as one of the most eventful years of the country’s checkered history, particularly for former prime minister Imran Khan who dominated headlines for long marches.

From his allies flipping on him over his ineptitude, to a parliamentary revolt that saw his ouster, to a consistent stream of audio leaks, to being named in court filings as having allegedly illegally sold state gifts payments, the PTI chief has faced a barrage of scandals.

More specifically, Islamabad remained a metaphorical site for the country's political volatility and controversial power struggles throughout the year as the air in the federal capital remained thick with the stench of tear gasses and rife with the potential of violence.

The federal capital saw a number of long marches over the year. Here's a look at the four definitive long marches of 2022:FebruaryWhile in power, Imran Khan sailed through turbulent waters and his rule faced a number of challenges with the then-opposition parties assembling into a mighty coalition against him, both outside and inside the parliament.

On February 27, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari set off with activists and supporters from Karachi the party’s march towards Islamabad – dubbed the Awami Long March -- as part of its attempts to oust the PTI-led federal government.

Prior to the rally’s departure, the PPP chairman addressed a large and charged crowd next to the Mazar-e-Quaid, kicking off the long march with the slogan “Go Selected Go”.The Bhutto scion – now the country’s foreign minister – said that the people of the metropolis had gathered at the venue and were about to stage a march to the federal capital to send the “selected, illegitimate and incompetent” PTI-led government home.

The PPP concluded its long march against the government, reaching the D-Chowk of the federal capital on the evening of March 8, as the party geared up for its final push to dislodge the government of the former prime minister Imran Khan.

March

The second major long march of the year on the federal capital commenced from Lahore on March 26.

Jointly led by Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Hamza Shehbaz, the PML-N’s long march against inflation set off for Islamabad.A few days before the party kicked its trek, Lahore woke up to the sight of banners carrying the slogan “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Waqt ki majboori hai Shehbaz Sharif zaroori hai” (Shehbaz Sharif as PM is the need of the hour).On the other hand, the then-premier Imran Khan also gave a call to workers of his party to reach D-Chowk on March 27 for the country’s “biggest-ever rally”.

The PDM’s ‘mehangai march’ took place after the constituent parties finally came around to accepting the viewpoint propagated by the PPP that instead of resigning en masse, the opposition should leverage the strength of parliament to oust the PTI government.

April

After repeated threats to topple the government, the opposition finally muscled out Imran Khan's government on April 10 through a no-confidence motion.

However, a confluence of crises tested the new dispensation’s ability to survive a volley of political setbacks hitting the young government.For Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the office proved to be a ‘hedge of thorns’.

Facing louder calls for fresh elections with the PTI chairman poised to take a great leap towards the federal capital to throw the government out of gear, the coalition partners spent the year bracing for a similar state of affairs they staged for the former ruling party.

May

Declaring the government as imported and imposed, the ousted prime minister announced a long march on Islamabad.He announced that his party would kick off its much-hyped long march against the “imported government” to the federal capital on May 25.

Addressing a news conference after the PTI’s core committee meeting in Peshawar, Imran said the main demands for the march to Islamabad were the immediate dissolution of the assemblies and announcing a date for the next general election.He added that the army had remained true to its word of staying “neutral”.On May 25, the PML-N-led ruling coalition used massive force against the marchers. Still, it failed to contain PTI activists and supporters – who while staging their “Haqeeqi Azadi March” -- managed to cross all barriers and reached near D-Chowk after setting some trees and public property on fire in the Blue Area of the federal capital.Clashes continued throughout the day between the protesters and law-enforcement agencies at different locations in the twin cities, including Faizabad Interchange, where the roads were blocked with containers.

The clashes unfolded against a hazy backdrop of police-fired tear gas with PTI supporters and activists flexing their muscles in an unrelenting stare-down with the security personnel who resorted to firing teargas, baton-charging and detaining the marchers.

October

The last long march of the year under the leadership of Imran Khan started on October 28 from Lahore.Imran said he would begin a protest march with his supporters from the eastern city of Lahore to the capital to call for early elections. The announcement came after the party held smaller protests the ECP found the PTI chief guilty of unlawfully selling gifts from foreign dignitaries and heads of state and removed him from his parliamentary seat.

“I am marching to press the government to announce elections immediately,” he had said, adding that his supporters and party members should avoid violence. “This will be the largest long march in the country’s history.”On the other hand, the government said demonstrators will be barred from entering Islamabad and they expect to deploy about 30,000 law enforcement officers to encircle the capital for protection.

In November, the march was cut short after Imran survived the assassination attempt with bullet wounds in the incident, rocking the nation already racked by turmoil due to political instability.