Transgressions by both PML-N and PTI
Once the Punjab government had allowed the PTI to take out its “Azadi March”, it was the administration’s duty to ensure that the marchers reached Islamabad safely. This failed to happen when the march was attacked in Gujranwala by PML-N workers. The government and the PML-N leadership are both to be blamed for failure to stop this from happening. Ever since May 12 when Imran Khan took out a rally against the rigging in polls, a war of words is going on between the two parties. A number of PML-N ministers have been working overtime to discredit Imran Khan while the PTI leaders too are paying them back in the same coin. This has generated bitterness which has spread to the workers of both the parties. Gujranwala is known to be the stronghold of the PML-N. The government should have under the circumstances taken timely measures to ensure that nothing untoward happened as the procession led by Imran Khan passed through the city.
Why didn’t the CM take the measures like closing of the PML-N offices along the entire route to Islamabad a day earlier? Why were the local MNAs and MPAs not directed to ensure that their workers did not indulge in brickbatting? Why wasn’t the city police chief officer directed to take special measures to ensure that procession passed peacefully through the city?
This is the second incident of violence against PML-N’s opponents after the June 17 shooting down of at least 14 PAT workers by Punjab Police and the vandalisation of PAT activists’ cars by Gullu Butt, allegedly a PML-N worker. Political parties need to take note of intolerance which is fairly widespread among their ranks and files. The PML-N workers brickbatted Imran Khan’s container and tried to destroy PTI’s banners carrying the leaders’ portraits. In case the tendency is not stopped urgently, it might lead to rioting all over the province. This could in turn force the military to intervene.