Is the realisation more than skin deep?
The two fire eating opposition parties seem to have realised that the threats of a political tsunami or long marches did not suit the system. How deep the realisation has sunk remains to be seen. During his address at Liaquat Bagh on Sunday, PTI President Imran Khan was more sedate than ever. While he criticised Gilani’s policies as well as those of the PML(N) leadership, he held out no threats of agitation. Instead he announced that he was going to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the speaker’s ruling which has exonerated the prime minister. Meanwhile, PML(N) too has decided not to go beyond challenging the speakers’ ruling in the apex court. Many had criticised the two parties for issuing calls that could only upset the apple cart. Hopefully both have realised now that with no restriction on freedom of speech and expression and with no political prisoners except in Balochistan, there is little sense in issuing calls of the last sort. Mian Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with the Turkish prime minister too seems to have had a sobering effect. Whatever the factors behind it, the realisation needs to be welcomed.
Recent reports from Balochistan also suggest that despite the unending complaints against the security agencies’ highhandedness, political parties of all shades of opinion are keen to take part in the forthcoming elections. This is perhaps because of a perception that the continuation of the democratic system alone offers a way out of the sufferings in Balochistan. While some still entertain reservations about the adequacy of the quantum of provincial autonomy ensured under 18th amendment, there still is a faint hope that the only way to get it extended is through parliament. Meanwhile, CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry has also made it clear that even a week democracy is better than a martial law. This should provide confidence to the government leaders. They would hopefully realise that what the apex court wants is not their scalp but adherence to the constitution. What needs to be ensured is a fair and free election without any pre-poll, mid-poll or post-poll manipulation by the agencies.
Only those who do not hope to win the elections are still itching for an agitation. Let them for a while stew in their own juice.
