The actions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protesters in the aftermath of Imran Khan’s arrest are aimed at creating chaos and anarchy in the country. Imran Khan was lawfully arrested in a case that has been the talk of the town for a while. The reaction from his supporters – while expected- shows the dangers that Imran Khan’s populist rhetoric poses to the country.
Consider for example the attacks on government-owned buildings and military installations. No one cavils at the idea that the military establishment in Pakistan has been involved in political engineering, indeed, the whole PTI/Imran Khan project has been the result of this engineering. In many ways, the unraveling of this project has been a comeuppance for the military itself but does the unraveling itself justify the chaos? To violently attack and burn buildings and installations is calling forth a flood and no it is not about civilian supremacy. In the past, the PTI and its supporters were on the frontline of those persecuting dissenting voices critical of the military’s intervention in politics.
The fact is, whether or not PTI supporters accept it, Imran Khan’s government was toppled through constitutional means through a vote of no confidence. On the contrary, PTI’s decision to call for the early dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was tainted with malice. This should have been a matter to be adjudicated in the Supreme Court but unfortunately, the events of the past two months, especially the somewhat hasty exercise of the original jurisdiction by the Chief Justice of Pakistan precluded that possibility.
For PTI, it would seem the words “constitution” and “civilian supremacy” mean something only when it is PTI that is supreme. It is – to put it mildly- a mad dash to grab power at all costs. The clamor for elections on 14 May 2023 is another example.
By resorting to violence, PTI has for all practical purposes forfeited its status as a democratic political party and has become a militant outfit in outright rebellion against the state.
The Constitution does not only speak of elections within 90 days but also of free, fair, and impartial polls. This in turn is regulated by the Election Act, which envisages all legislative elections on one day, which is necessary if there have to be neutral caretakers, another established convention in the country. It would be another matter if the people of Pakistan had faith in incumbent governments holding free and fair elections. Sadly that is not the case.
In the absence of such faith, free and fair elections can only happen nationally, if these are held on the same day i.e. for provincial and national legislatures.
PTI’s populist rhetoric no doubt has captured the imagination of a significant percentage of the country’s population. The party has tasted blood and is in no mood to relent. The issue is not civilian supremacy. Nor is it constitutionalism.The actions of PTI leadersand its party cadres over the last few days are the antithesis of constitutionalism.
The people have the right to protest but such protest and the right to assemble have to be peaceable and non-violent, and within the constitutional bounds. Needless to say, the looting and arson of the kind on display during the PTI supporters’ attack on the Corps Commander Lahore’s house were not akin to peaceful protest. By resorting to violence, PTI has for all practical purposes forfeited its status as a democratic political party and has become a militant outfit in outright rebellion against the state. No state will brook such rebellion.
There is still time for the PTI to halt and bring sanity back. Imran Khan should be tried fairly and if he is convicted, he should step aside and make way for other leadership within the party. If on the other hand, the party insists on following the disastrous course of violent protest and uprising, the state will have no choice but to proscribe the party as an illegal outfit. This will not be good for anyone because it will deprive the PTI supporters of a legitimate political voice, which is their right as citizens of the country.
For political dissent to be legitimate and credible, it has to be based on principles. Those principles are in short supply at the moment. It is unclear as to what the PTI is aiming at – a violent overthrow of the government will bring untold misery to a country already facing a grave economic crisis. Statesmanship demands that PTI leaders now look beyond their narrow self-interest and reaffirm their loyalty to constitutional means and methods.
The alternatives are bleak. Will Pakistan descend further into chaos with PTI cadres taking on the military and the law enforcers in the streets? Does a violent civil war further PTI’s goal of obtaining power at all costs? It is not likely. The patience of the deep state has been tested enough already. Consequences can potentially be bloody and I do not think any side wants this to go on. All sides need to step back and prepare for elections in October this year. In order for those polls to be fair and impartial, the PTI needs to sit down with powers that be and mend the fences. At this time, however, PTI is being perceived as anti-state and an agent of chaos. This perception must be undone. Calmer and saner heads must take up the reins of the party and control the mob that has been unleashed. The party needs to come out of the siege mentality and revert to being a normal political party, regardless of the political future of Imran Khan.
The writer is an advocate of the high courts of Pakistan and author of ‘Jinnah: A Life.’
 protesters in the aftermath of Imran Khan’s arrest are aimed at creating chaos and anarchy in the country. Imran Khan was lawfully arrested in a case that has been the talk of the town for a while. The reaction from his supporters – while expected- shows the dangers that Imran Khan’s populist rhetoric poses to the country.){kind=link}