After over two years of staying on the same page, the once smooth relationship between the establishment and PML-N appears to be hitting rough waters, particularly over the recent Islamabad rally.
The tension surfaced with PML-N leader Javed Latif taking potshots at security institutions for what he deemed the white-glove treatment accorded to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
During a press conference at the PML-N central secretariat, Latif also rang alarm bells about the state of affairs in K-P and Azad Kashmir.
He questioned if the powerful hands shielding Gandapur were the same ones protecting PTI's supremo, Imran Khan. He asserted that if those pulling the strings are powerful enough to let Gandapur walk free, then the public deserves to know.
Latif's remarks, which were largely framed as rhetorical questions, signalled growing discomfort in the PML-N camp.
It is pertinent to mention that when PTI was expected to hold a rally at D-Chowk, not only was the entire capital city of Islamabad and other main arteries leading to it blocked, but also large contingents of police and rangers were deployed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif came to Lahore, and the situation in Islamabad was, at least seemingly, handled by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is often seen as a king's man.
During the presser, Latif further called out the apparent leniency shown to Gandapur, asking why was the K-P chief minister not arrested and how he, along with the cavalcade of government vehicles, managed to waltz into Islamabad and later slip away.
He grilled the security institutions, asking who facilitated Gandapur's escape.
He accused the establishment of repeating past mistakes, likening Gandapur's unchecked influence to that of Altaf Hussain, whom the establishment once empowered and later pursued when he became uncontrollable.
Latif warned that the same script was being followed by Imran Khan and Gandapur.
Alluding to the fate of Indian-occupied Kashmir, Javed warned that the same dark clouds are hovering over Azad Kashmir. He expressed concern that states which supported occupation and genocide in Palestine would back similar actions here.
Sounding more alarm, he claimed that the allegations of Balochistan elements operating with Indian funding are mirrored in K-P through CM Ali Amin Gandapur. In a veiled manner, he called for action in K-P to neutralise the threat.
When asked which institution he was referring to, Javed hinted at those responsible for appointing Ali Amin Gandapur as CM, despite his involvement in the May 9 riots.
Javed, further hinting at the establishment's support for PTI, said that when he mentioned the "pick and choose" strategy, referring to K-P CM, he was threatened with the use of Form-47.
Javed added that if any leader from Balochistan had invited India's foreign minister to address one of their gatherings, they would have been made an example.
He referred to how an example was set with Altaf Hussain, whom the establishment had once patronised. Accusing Imran Khan of being supported by the Israeli lobby, Javed pointed out that no one from PTI attended a gathering held to show solidarity with Palestinians.
He mocked the fuss created over Gandapur's mysterious absences, saying that while Ali Amin Gandapur reappears after 8 or 24 hours, other missing persons don't resurface even after 24 years.
Javed, whose party is in its second consecutive term in power, stated, "They talk about amendments and systems, but I say the country is in crisis, so we should focus on saving it".
He questioned how Gandapur managed to reach Islamabad, bypassing all the barriers. Javed noted that while his party was accused of using Patwaris and revenue officers for political gatherings, Gandapur blatantly used the entire provincial machinery.
He added that just because institutions do not speak up about Afghan terrorists and weapons found in K-P House doesn't mean they should stay silent about the ongoing devastation in the country.
When asked why the Prime Minister left for Lahore on the day PTI arrived in Islamabad, and about the Interior Minister's role, Javed expressed concern over the minister's statements made that day.
Javed further argued that PTI's actions were clearly aimed at undermining Pakistan's relations with China, CPEC, and the country's overall progress.
He questioned, "If the recent march toward Islamabad was really about a constitutional amendment, then what amendment was at stake in 2014?"
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