And Khan on the war path
The way the PMLN has dealt with PAT and PTI speaks volumes about its incompetence. Even if Tahirul Qadri is out to derail the system, firing at his activists was no way to foil his designs. The move brought bad name to Punjab government and it had to fire its law minister. Similarly, the PML-N leadership took Imran Khan lightly and continued to ignore his demands for a recount of votes in four constituencies. The policy backfired. With the passage of time Imran Khan put up more demands and is now questioning the legitimacy of the 2013 elections. Despite his claim that he would not act in violation of the constitution, the march on Islamabad followed by a possible sit in can have unforeseen and potentially harmful consequences for democracy.
The PML-N leadership could have called Imran Khan for talks to iron out differences. What it did instead was to assign the task of handling Khan to less competent junior ministers. The infantile statements issued by them added fuel to the fire.
The PML-N lacks political acumen. It was unwise on the part of the prime minister to spend a week in Saudi Arabia at a crucial juncture. During his absence Ch Nisar could have visited the IDPs camps on Eid day to show solidarity with them. Not only did he fail to do that but also tried to dissuade Imran Khan from proceeding to the camp by warning him that he was on the militants’ hit list. The PTI chief however reached the IDP camp in Bannu where he was welcomed by the displaced tribesmen. While at the camp Imran Khan condemned the restrictions imposed on the IDPs in Punjab and Sindh
Now that Khan is on the war path, unmindful of its consequences for the system, he is being told that government is keen to resolve all disputes with him. As usual the offer for talks is accompanied by statements that the PTI is likely to interpret as pinpricks.