What good will come out of it?
In a functional democracy, every political entity is allowed a reasonable form of protest. However, ours is a lot that gives a totally new meaning to protests. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) blocked NATO supplies to Afghanistan for what they claim to be a legitimate form of protest against the drone strikes. The protest, which has lasted for a two-week time period, is not something the country can boast of as a credential to its fledgling democracy. However, this is what it is: a messed up approach at politicizing an issue that has nothing to do with the drone strikes.
Imran Khan and his party is not novice anymore, as naive as it is. After being in power for over six months, it should have known by now as to what it takes to run government. Not everything is as it appears to be. But PTI seems bent on making it its objective to run the country like it doesn’t care for how its actions might affect the rest of the country. Businesses, particularly the ones related to transport and freight services are disturbed across the country. Pakistan is losing its standing as a nation united with this whole saga that paints it as a nation marred with discord and differences. The US is willing to incur almost double the cost of its withdrawal from the region while not budging a single inch from its position on drone attacks. It has in fact decided to halt NATO supplies fearing the safety of its truck drivers. PTI then claimed this decision to be its success, something that should signal it to stop its shenanigans and get serious in playing its part in resolving outstanding issues in the country.
The JI, a right-wing conservative religious party, which had supported PTI’s decision up till now, wants to quit protest. PTI also fears that the federal government might intervene or create a constitutional issue out of the situation. Country’s economy cannot afford any upsets, nor can we afford an affront against the world powers. Now that Imran Khan and his party have registered their protest, which has been acknowledged by the US in its decision to halt transport services, it is time that they ended their protest and let the federal government take charge of the situation and carry on its protest through diplomatic means.
