Could the timing be any better?
Imran Khan has finally announced his plan to close Islamabad at a time when the generals are breathing down Nawaz Sharif’s neck over what they consider a breach of national security. This has encouraged a PTI leader to maintain that the present situation is as ominous for the Prime Minister as it was in October 1999 when he was ousted by the then COAS. Meanwhile pleas by the opposition to the Election Commission and by the PTI to Supreme Court are about to be heard. Some would accuse Imran Khan and the others Nawaz Sharif in case their confrontation leads to a political disaster. Still others would hold both responsible for ignoring the writing on the wall and continuing on the collision course.
The PTI chief has finally shown his cards. He says he is determined to shut down the federal capital by holding a prolonged sit-in on the road and routes leading to federal government offices to restrain the government officials from working. He has called upon party workers to carry necessary rations that can sustain them during the sit-in. He has also advised the government to abstain from using force. According to Imran Khan plans have been devised to tackle any situation which emerges in the wake of the use of disproportionate force against PTI protesters. These include mobilisation of ‘wings’ that will offer support and protection to protesters staging the sit-ins. Both sides need to be reminded that occurrence of serious clashes could turn to be a recipe for disaster.
The government has to realise that while the opposition might disapprove of Imran Khan’s tactics like the proposed sit-in, it agrees with the demand for an urgent probe into the Panama affair to determine if Nawaz Sharif and his family are involved in taking money out of the country in violation of laws. With Imran Khan willing to consider revising the schedule of the agitation, this provides both sides an opportunity to resolve the dispute through talks.
