The PML-N appears to have learned no lesson
Both Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri have finally realised that it is not possible to overthrow an elected government through street protests. What is more, hoping that the ‘umpire’ would do the job for them by raising his finger is expecting too much. The PTI chief is now looking towards the elections which he hopes to ‘sweep’. Shah Mahmood Qureshi meanwhile has assured a multi-party conference on Wednesday that PTI believed in non-violent struggle for real democracy while it considered that holding protests was a constitutional right of every citizen. When he was expressing these sentiments, the all too familiar ‘Go Nawaz, go’ slogans raised by PTI activists at an avenue in Wazirabad where Nawaz Sharif had just addressed a meeting, caused a brawl.
Every party can shout slogans at its own functions. A problem is bound to arise when charged activists of a party go to a function arranged by equally charged opponents and begin to badmouth there leadership. This is likely to be seen as a provocative act and those indulging in doing this are believed to be acting at their leadership’s behest. Now that the PTI is willing to wait for the elections, it would be useful for it to ensure an atmosphere where every political party can take part in peaceful campaigns without being disturbed by its opponents. It is all the more needed in a country where tolerance among political parties is already in short supply. It is for media to promote democratic values like patience and restraint instead of encouraging strife.
After the Model Town firing and the Gullu Butt show which will haunt the PML-N for a long time to come, the party needs to exercise maximum restraint even under strong provocation. The warnings to PTI activists could have been issued in a milder tone. The PML-N has to realise that hot words can lead to equally sharp replies pushing up the political temperature. What the PML-N cannot afford at this stage is yet another major folly.
