Some say the real issues Pakistan is facing today are power shortages, terrorism, religious intolerance towards minorities, and army action in tribal areas to flush out the religious extremists, while the others say, including several politicians, the so-called long march to dislodge an elected government, and government’s crackdown on political activities are the ones we should focus upon. Apparently we are stuck between two groups of fools: one that sees nothing beyond their egoistic nose and intend to handle any opposition with heavy hands; and the other with hoards of first-time-ever elected parliamentarians who still believe in street power and want to settle issues with might, not with logic.
Is this time for Imran Khan to hold long march to dislodge an elected government, which has been in power for barely a year but is trying to handle power and other crises best to its capacity? Is this the time to destabilise the country when millions of tribal families have been displaced from North Waziristan and are living a miserable and tortuous life in refugee camps? Is this time to send a negative message to foreign investors which are looking for safe return on their investments, not lock outs and destruction of their properties?
At the same time it’s the nervousness of the federal and Punjab governments that has converted this routine long march and call for revolution into a crisis. Why army and rangers are being called to handle the opposition protests? What’s the harm if Imran Khan is permitted to stage a long march, do a sit-in for a few days, exposing his real game that instead of handling law and order situation and IDPs crises in KP province, he is more interested in destabilising the whole country?
One may presume that the All Parties Conference, now scheduled on Saturday to discuss the security situation in the country, will be a turning point to avert this political monkey business by coming up with a face saving formula for both rivals. Let’s allow Imran Khan to do the long march, hold a token sit-in and disperse peacefully. Similarly, Nawaz Sharif shall not call army, rangers or police to handle political protests.
Let’s see whether better sense will prevail on the 67th Independence Day of the country.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
