A file photo showing PTI supporters protest against rigging in May 11 polls on May 12, 2013 in Karachi. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR
Over 100 PTI supporters were rounded up by the police in the city, but released after a few hours on the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. As soon as the supporters were released, they again took to the Mall Road to resume their protest. Imran Khan and others have also vocally spoken out against the arrests. As Mian Nawaz Sharif stated in his sensible intervention in the matter, every party has a right to peaceful protest. But, as the Punjab administration told him, rallies on the Mall are banned under a Lahore High Court order and clearly, there should be no exceptions made for a particular party.
It is also a fact that the PTI must now look at itself as a party which wields power, not one sitting in the opposition. It has before it a daunting task in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where its government must attempt to re-establish some order and tackle militancy. It must also play a role in the National Assembly as an opposition able to contribute to devising solutions for the country. This can only happen if it reduces its role on the streets and makes governance its priority. Most people who voted for the PTI would like to see what it can offer them. This cannot be determined if protests are the main focus of the party, but only if it adopts a larger role as well in the affairs of the state and devotes much-needed attention to this. Policies, not protests, are then the need of the day. Imran Khan and his team must think about this and come up with a plan of action.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2013.
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I am never voting for PTI again. If they want to protest they should go to KPK and protest and leave Lahore alone!
Who is responsible for wrong candidate selection for general and by elections? Why are there allegations of corruption in party funds for election, from PTI circles? Honey Moon Period of 3 months is over. Now is time for some concrete steps and complete projects. Otherwise people will start asking, where is the change promised by Imran Khan in 90 days?
Resorting to protest on every thing is harmful. They could not save two NA seats vacated by Imran Khan. They did not win any of 4 KP provincial seats in by elections. Where they won, their lead from general elections, is reduced significantly. PTI should first make their house in order. They are ignoring their own faults.
PTI should concentrate on doing good governance in KPK. If they want to appeal Pakistani people in next general elections, then they have to deliver in the province, where they are in power currently. They should make KP a model province.
Good Editorial, but am surprised for all the flake that Imran Khan took for 'lack of political acumen', there is little recognition when he has actually shown some. Protesting at or near the time of a rules violation is the only way to get limited justice as memories are fresh in the minds of the public and the issue is harder to sweep under the carpet. The role of the ROs cannot be ignored. . Similarly, PTI did a great job by printing the white paper in time before Imran Khan's court appearance to breath some life into its protest. This is the only way to get some justice in Pakistan, otherwise PML-N's state machinery will simply swallow any other form of protest. . PTI has 5 long years for improving KPK, political maneuvering at the start was necessary due to the way the elections were conducted.