Amir Mateen

ISLAMABAD: Just when we expected Imran Khan’s PTI to up the ante in the run-up to its August 14 rally, the party almost staged a U-turn. There was a definite mellowness in PTI’s rhetoric. Or so was the case at the National Assembly where the party seemed a little jittery in the absence of skipper Imran Khan.

It was difficult to say whether it was a change of tone or a partial backtracking from PTI’s extreme stance. Whatever the case, Arif Alvi took pains to explain that the PTI would not create any law and order situation. Speaking on behalf of his party, he assured the Assembly that the PTI would not let things get out of control. And that if any “derailment of democracy” took place the blame would rest with the PML-N.

Come on, guys! We thought the PTI was marching to Islamabad to take over the Capital, turn the system upside down and rip apart the PML-N government. Such events are supposed to create fear and anxiety – nah? The whole point was to create intense pressure so that the government might cave in to announce mid-term elections. Or so was the impression given to us by the Skipper. If this is supposed to be a Hyde-Park style peace rally why not hold it in Islamabad’s Fatima Jinnah (F-9) Park. Or why hold it at all.

PML-N’s street-wise Khawaja Saad Rafiq was quick to jump at the opportunity. He welcomed Alvi’s “sagaciousness” while expressing the hope that if only Imran Khan could also emulate Alvi Sahb’s “very wise approach”. He assured the Assembly that if the PTI promises the rally to be as peaceful as it says the PML-N will ensure that Imran takes it out for as long as he wants to.” Touche!

Alvi seemed to have punctured the PTI balloon. He further explained that the PTI would remain within the confines of the Constitution. If this is the case then Mr Alvi or his skipper should also explain the legal mechanics that will materialise the PTI dream of mid-term polls. It was hard to tell whether PTI’s defensive posture was because of the criticism that the PTI faces for possibly instigating violence at a time when the country was at war. Many thought that the occasion might be used for terrorism or it might pave the way for a military takeover. My hunch for this confusion is simple: the PTI is a confused lot.

The PTI threat about resigning from the Assemblies should explain this. The PML-N would love to have the PTI members actually do that. The government would relish holding by-elections to increase its strength in Parliament, particularly in the Senate elections next year. It will be interesting to see if the PTI MPAs in the KP will do that willingly. More interesting will be to see if Sheikh Rasheed hands over his resignation because it will not be easy for him to win in the ‘ideal polls’ that Imran Khan seeks. PTI ally Jamaat-e-Islami has already distanced itself from the decision. Imran Khan should know that no member wants to go home before time. He should also learn from the Kerjriwal example in India where AAm AAdmi party lost badly in the national polls because it resigned from the Delhi government before showing the promised results. The PTI is yet to prove its point in the KP. Imran Khan could not be part of the electoral reforms in the last elections because he was not part of Parliament. He should use the opportunity while he has the chance this time.

In contrast, PPP’s Khursheed Shah seemed much more clear-headed. He warned the government not to be trapped by calling in the army in Islamabad. The PPP did that in 1977 and the result was the martial law. He was right that Zulfiqar Bhutto regretted his decision to call the army in. “We made mistakes; why don’t you learn from us,” he said while lambasting Chaudhry Nisar for his “lies.” Nisar had claimed that the PPP had invoked Article 245 at least 11 times. Where does Nisar get his figures from, he asked. The only time the PPP used it was during the Malakand Operation (and perhaps in 2013) and that too after consulting with the major political parties. The PPP briefed the stake-holders in an in-camera session before taking the extreme action. He advised the PML-N to let the PTI take out its rally. “Believe me, heavens will not fall and this too shall pass,” he pleaded.

Again, Chaudhry Nisar was missing from the scene. Sheikh Rasheed believes the differences between the prime minister and Chaudhry Nisar have grown thicker. Sheikh claimed at the cafeteria that the recent patch-up between the two was cosmetic and that “Nawaz Sharif would not care at all if Nisar chose to leave the party; he might actually want it.”

Nisar’s omission has consequences, as he happens to be the technical in-charge of the war in Fata. But it turned out to be a blessing for the PML-N as Khawaja Saad answered for the government in a mature way. He seemed to have been particularly asked to clarify that the army is in Islamabad only to counter terrorism and will exclusively guard strategic assets. It will not come face to face with political rallies. He also took a dig at the PTI for timing their rally with the Waziristan operation. He sounded reasonable when he argued that “if the PTI could wait for 15 months why couldn’t it wait for two more months.” He sounded ominous when he hinted that that there was a genuine threat of terrorist activity during the rally “and if that happens the responsibility will rest with the PTI.”

Without sounding offensive, for a change though, he promised that the PTI would be allowed to hold its rally only if it could keep it peaceful.

There was a definite note of warning for Tahirul Qadri though. Saad differentiated the PTI with a non-elected foreign agent. But he was not the only one who criticised the Canadian mullah. Almost every party singled him out using harsh words. Khursheed Shah lambasted Qadri while Achakzai declared him a “conjurer.  Tahirul Qadri is up for trouble. Will it be just his arrest or is there more to it? We shall know pretty soon.

The News

August 6, 2014