ISLAMABAD - Even though the federal government is feeling benevolent on allowing PTI-PAT rallies in Islamabad, it clearly lacks an effective counter-strategy if duo’s protest lingers and eventually turns violent.
Despite the assurances by Imran and Qadri to keep their protest non-violent, the Interior Ministry has failed to secure a deal with the two leaders about the duration of the protest in Islamabad.
Statements being given by the two leaders suggest that they would not go back home empty handed come what may. Therefore, the mode of culmination of the main protest rally remains uncertain to the extent even the Nawaz government is clueless about duration and mode of culmination of the protest rally.
There are clear indications from the workers of the two parties that they would not leave the ground until and unless Prime Minister Sharif gives in and announces fresh elections in the country. So it does not seem to be a one-day match. Both Imran and Qadri seem well set in their thought and action to take the situation where Chief of Army Staff is requested to do the troubleshooting.
This proposition of the PTI and PAT goes to the act of former Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani who had persuaded Nawaz Sharif in calling off his long march for restoration of superior court judges. Since both PTI and PAT think options available to the Prime Minister will be exhausted and force either to step down or request General Raheel Sharif to mediate to resolve the crisis.
Background discussions and interviews with leaders and activists of the two parties revealed that the protest rallies would be peaceful but frustrating for the government.
It is learnt that PAT leadership has devised a sit-in based protest campaign on the pattern of the one in early 80s when Shia protesters had forced late General Zia ul Haq to accept their demands. That protest had continued for five days and culminated with the realization of their primary objectives.
Thus taking that as a role model of protest the PAT and its allied parties seem quite confident that they would achieve their objective.
According to the sources, PAT and its allied parties believe that even if Imran Khan ditches them in the course of their protest, they will not leave the ground till the revolution. Rather they will follow a strategy to keep their workers charged and pouring till their demands are accepted.
On other hand, the government is still struggling to defuse the situation by dividing these two parties. One hopes a better sense prevails and any untoward situation is averted peacefully and without paralyzing the life in the capital city.