Little likelihood of government’s removal
As the political crisis deepened the beleaguered government called on the army to act as a facilitator. The dragging of the army into politics was resented by the opposition leaders who asked for the rationale of the move when nearly all political parties in parliament stood by the government. The ISPR release after the corps commanders moot advised the government to act fast to resolve the issue without recourse to force. There was no mention in the facilitators’ statement however of law breaking on the part of the mobs.
In the parliamentary sittings speakers lambasted the protesters for their illegal acts that included entering the PTV premises and occupying the parliament’s lawn. The speakers did not forgive the ruling PMLN either. They criticised the brutality in Model Town, the government’s lack of responsiveness to people’s miseries and its failure to act in time. The arrogance and inefficacy of the cabinet ministers was also underlined. The parliament called upon the prime minister to remain firm on his decision not to resign. This was the first time in the country’s history that the opposition had stood by the government when the latter faced an imminent threat of removal.
It was highly embarrassing for the PTI when its President Javed Hashsmi revealed that the protests were engineered by the offstage players and the script writers aimed at enforcing the Bangladesh Model in Pakistan. Imran Khan had reportedly told Hashmi that those in Khaki wanted him to take Qadri along in the push towards the PM House.
The government and opposition negotiating teams have met the PTI and PAT leaders several times. Imran Khan and Qadri however continue to stick to their demand for the resignation of the prime minister. With the parliament at Sharif’s back and the Supreme Court wary of a civil war if mobs continue to be on the rampage, there is little likelihood of the removal of the government in the near future unless someone decides to take on both the parliament and the Supreme Court.