PTI is kick-starting a new political agitation from today, marking the two years of incarceration of former PM Imran Khan. That the opposition party is on a weak pitch – as it stands divided due to its internal differences and is pushed to the wall by the government – is for all to see. It will thus be a horrendous task for the party to mobilise a sizeable crowd and make its presence felt on the streets.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is understood to lead the movement and there isn’t much certainty as to how Punjab and the federal capital’s populace will respond, as they have been a victim of lethal crackdown in the past. This dizziness has apparently compelled PTI to chalk out a smart strategy wherein workers and supporters plan to “block roads, share their political heart and disperse peacefully”. To what extent it succeeds in building a momentum of change through this ‘guerilla campaign’ is anybody’s guess, but taking into account the vibrancy of the party on social media, it is set to create ripples and give a tough time to the coalition dispensation that is out to exterminate the opposition.
The PTI has already launched a mass campaign as far as its overseas strength is concerned, and its media blitz in the Western capitals is making a qualified anti-government impact. The whirlpool tour of Khan’s sons to the US, seeking their father’s release, has galvanised the necessary sparks and their proposed visit to Pakistan is in need of being watched.
Little is known about the role of the six-party opposition alliance, TTAP, in the protest. But what is certain is that the pestering instability is pushing the country to the cliff, and this new phase of revulsion will have its toll. The outcome rests in talking it out, and it’s high time for the authorities to engage with the PTI. Many of its demands are worth accepting, like release of all prisoners, including Imran Khan, and provision of due political space. Will someone stand up and be counted from the corridors of power to usher in a thaw?
