Focus on issues, not on Pakistan’s institutions

Party leaders should know confrontation will only lead to chaos and more misery

Politics is back on the streets of Pakistan once again just two years after popular cricketerturned politician Imran Khan was elected as the prime minister of the country. Street agitation and the ‘ sit- in’ staged for months by Imran Khan protesting against ‘ corrupt’ government of the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were the driving factor behind his rise. He promised to give relief to the poor people through revolutionary reforms and take action against the corrupt political leaders. However, it seems people of Pakistan are not happy with the performance of Pakistan Tehreek- eInsaf ( PTI) government and the massive anti- government rallies by the alliance of major political parties speak volumes in this regard.

Until a few months ago, no one in Pakistan would have imagined such large rallies protesting against the Imran Khan government. Nevertheless, tables are turning nowand the main stream political parties have come out on streets to launch agitation campaign to dethrone Khan. Inflation, economic crisis, political victimisation, curbs on media and more corruption are believed to be the factors that triggered the political parties to join hands to launch the anti- government move.

The opposition political alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement ( PDM), has already held two back- to- back rallies in two cities in less than a week’s time. The massive turnout of people at the rallies has ostensibly shaken the government. More rallies are planned in the coming weeks before the launch of a countrywide agitation campaign.

Political parties have the right to hold rallies. However, the political leaders should not target government institutions, especially the Pakistan armed forces. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while addresing a rally via online, stunned everyone in the country when he criticised and blamed Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for dethroning him from power and bringing Imran Khan to power.

Sharif or any other political leader should avoid hurling such accusations, for Imran Khan is an elected prime minister. Political leaders should let the government work and ‘ respect the vote’.

Imran Khan should focus more on governance and not on political vendetta, while opposition leaders should let the government complete its five- year termas confrontation will only lead to chaos and more economic woes, especially at the time of a global pandemic.