While protests are a part and parcel of democracy, raising the political pressure to levels where these can upset the system is highly dangerous
The tragedy in Peshawar has had a chastening effect on a number of people, the most important being Imran Khan. It took the PTI leader only hours to reverse his confrontational course, rush to Peshawar to attend the multi-party meeting called by Nawaz Sharif and assure the nation that at that moment of national grief he stood by other leaders including the PM. On Sunday the PTI core committee condemned the TTP and “all other terrorist groups that have unleashed their brutality on the people of Pakistan”. The PTI is now actively taking part in deliberations aimed at putting together an action plan to eliminate terrorism. Two PTI leaders also joined the working group tasked with preparing the nitty-gritty of the action plan. Hopes are being expressed by party leaders that soon the issue of the formation of the Judicial Commission would be resolved as ‘one or two minor points’ are sorted out by the negotiating teams. It is significant that the core committee has for the first time given its negotiators the mandate to finalise an agreement.
One expects the government side to display similar flexibility. A timely agreement on the TORs should lead to the announcement of the commission. Once this is done the PTI needs to join the National Assembly. PTI being the third largest party in NA it is necessary to give due importance to its views regarding electoral reforms. What is more the party has a number of knowledgeable leaders whose views need to be taken into account.
It is time for Imran Khan to realise that democracy requires a sense of responsibility. The call for civil disobedience or for refusing to pay the power bills can in no way be considered responsible. While protests are a part and parcel of democracy, raising the political pressure to levels where these can upset the system is highly dangerous. What Imran Khan needs to learn most is that political forces would not be strengthening the system if they also hobnobbed with the establishment.