Dangerous developments

Govt and PTI must return to the negotiating table before the political situation spirals completely out of control

The threat of possible violence and consequent chaos, as the PTI launched its plan for countrywide protests from Faisalabad on December 8, has turned into reality. In Faisalabad, from where the ‘shutdown’ action is to move on to other major cities, including Lahore and Karachi, the death of a PTI worker in a shooting incident has triggered an angry reaction from the party in many places, with activists taking to the roads in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Lahore, Quetta and Karachi, among other towns and cities. The shooting took place as PTI and PML-N workers clashed. An FIR has been filed, with the former Punjab law minister, Rana Sanaullah, and the Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali, among those named. Mr Sanullah’s son-in-law is also mentioned, with the Punjab chief minister ordering an inquiry into the series of unsavoury events, which left more than a dozen injured. The PTI, meanwhile, observed a day of mourning on December 9, with tensions running high.



The multiple clashes we saw in Faisalabad could so easily have been avoided. Things had indeed remained peaceful late into the morning, when PML-N activists allegedly initiated a confrontation. While the federal information minister has accused the PTI of creating chaos by forcibly trying to shut down schools and shops, the fact is that the primary responsibility for keeping public order rests with the government. The right to peaceful assembly is constitutionally granted, and it does appear that the PTI had initially attempted to remain orderly. It is unknown why the PML-N workers were not prevented from confronting them, leading to ugly scenes as the police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. The actions brought Faisalabad to a virtual standstill. There is now apprehension that such incidents could be repeated in other places. The PTI needs to play its role in maintaining calm. More responsible behaviour from the party could have helped contain the violence in Faisalabad. The priority now must be to prevent such incidents from recurring as the party continues its protests across the country. The government and the PTI, for the sake of maintaining calm in the country, must return to the negotiating table before the political situation spirals completely out of control.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th,  2014.

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