Dr Sania Chaudhry The show of strength by Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf at the Lahore rally has perturbed all Pakistanis to start thinking over the possibility of change in the political and social setup of the country. The enormous numbers were totally unexpected by many, since the rally was only a day apart from the PML-N protest rally at Nasir Bagh. Even the PTI workers had their reservations that transportation would be hijacked to prevent the masses from reaching the venue. The PTI rally is symbolic in many aspects. Its 15-year long struggle has finally convinced and impressed all; friends and foes that it means business and that the Lahore rally will serve as the turning point in the history and standing of the party. The rally was not only well planned, but the plan was also implemented in its true spirit. Campaign management has not been a tradition of Pakistan politics, but this rally is an eye opener for the other political parties to rethink their strategy for survival. Through this historic rally, Pakistan relived the memories of the mammoth rallies of the Bhutto era, which pitched its popularity on the roti, kapra aur makan slogan. Four decades have passed and a considerable section of the population of Pakistan is still deprived of these basic necessities of life today. Spokespersons of the ruling majority party claim every now and then on political talk shows that no citizen sleeps hungry in Pakistan. But such claims only defy the reports of various international human rights organisations, which reveal that thousands of Pakistanis commit suicide annually due to hunger and poverty. Over half the countrys population falls below the poverty line, but this rings no bells beyond the fortresses that house our indifferent rulers. Before going to sleep each night, they are reassured by their advisors that 'All is well All is well The alternating turns taken by martial law and the democratic governments of Muslim League and Peoples Party to bring the country to the dogs have led the citizens of this country to the brink of saturation where they can take no more. Every Pakistani, who is not an illegitimate beneficiary of these ruling arrangements, is a victim of corruption and bad governance and is desperate for change. Timing in politics is of crucial importance. In spite of severe criticism being hurdled at it for years, the PTI, under the leadership of Imran Khan, has struck at the right moment. It has served to introduce a ray of hope for this almost dead society. The gigantic crowds that flocked the rally reciprocate this beacon of hope by representing sects of the society, which herald that the remnants of a nation are as yet alive and hopeful of improvement in the status quo. Those who were present on this historic occasion belonged to a different category of citizens than those who have been part of such rallies in the past. Women, children, students, families, all present were symbolic of the fact that the nation is sick and tired of the political miscreants dominating the ruling elite and that they are no longer prepared to tolerate the ill-treatment meted out to the citizens of Pakistan. Supporters made it to Nasir Bagh on their personal transport with absolutely no incentive or coercion in exchange for their attendance. Even more exhilarating was the fact that the rally was attended by some supporters of the PPP and PML-Q. The success of the rally, however, has posed a bigger challenge for the PTI leadership, as political stalwarts of other parties are now looking towards the party to sustain their political careers. The coming days are of critical significance for its leadership from various aspects, as the party membership, support and popularity is bound to increase exponentially. Will it absorb the big names to improve its political standing and at what level of compromise? Reconciliation has been the buzz word of this government to legitimise its various controversial alliances and activities. How far is the PTI prepared to compromise to allow growth and expansion of the party into the renowned, reputed and infamous key political figures of our so-called democratic setup? The coming days are going to be of key significance in testing the claims of the PTI leadership that it will not entertain corrupt elements. If the corrupt political mafia manages to penetrate the leadership of PTI, then it will be difficult to differentiate the principles for which it stands from other major political parties. For after all whether it is the martial law, or the PML-N or PPP government, it is hardly a bunch of couple of thousands of politicians, bureaucrats and military officers, who make their way into every ruling setup and are responsible for the current economic state of affairs and bad governance in the country. The next election is in the offing, as uncertainty looms over the continuity of the government studded with allegations of corruption and bad governance. The present government has so far managed to linger on, but will it be able to enter into the fourth year of its tenure, only time will tell. Apparently, the government seems to be blessed with a cats nine lives. But will the civil disobedience agitation promised by Imran Khan during the rally be implemented and effective in contrast to the lame claims of the PML-N leadership to remove the ruling duo. The next major challenge for Chairman PTI Imran Khan will be at the time of allotting election tickets to the party members. Will the efforts of the supporters, who have stood behind their leader in all thick and thin since the inception of the party, be rewarded or will traditional politicians prevail and contest elections under its banner? These are serious challenges faced by the leadership of PTI in the coming days. The people of Pakistan are looking at Tehrik-i-Insaf as the last hope for the survival of the country and the manner in which its leadership will handle these challenges will be the decisive factor in establishing PTI as the third option in the next elections. The writer is an ex-assistant commissioner of Income Tax, IT/change management consultant and a public sector management analyst. Email: drsaniachaudhry@gmail.com