In Pakistan thinking that political parties will take a principled stance instead of missing an opportunity of political point scoring is a rare practice. For instance in the present chaos that has virtually paralysed the nation’s life, as the government’s attempt to dislodge the protestors sitting in Faizabad, two political parties namely Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jama’at Islami are all set on the path of political point scoring.

The argument put forward by the leaders of these two parties says that instead of using the option of force against the participants of the sit-in, the government should have tried to ease the situation through dialogue. Cashing maximum from the ongoing tussle between the protestors and the state, Imran Khan goes a step forward by playing the religion card.

The tweet of Jehangir Tareen, holding the government responsible for the tense situation in the country, and Shah Mehmood Quraishi’s extension of solidarity with protestors in Multan shows that PTI’s leadership want to annoy the government and gain people’s support by any mean necessary.

Putting all blame on the government for the deteriorating law and order situation, Khan on purpose forgets the brutal treatment of young doctors in Peshawar a few months back, the provincial capital of KP where his party is in power. The arguments of Imran and Siraj-ul-Haq are a perfect example of political opportunism at its best.

Repeating the demands of the protestors in verbatim and chiding the government for not releasing the investigation report by a probe team headed by Raja Zafar-ul-Haq, Imran is practicing realpolitik. Chairman PTI probably is out of touch with the ground realities as in the present case the government gave the protestors ample time and concessions during all these three weeks. It was reluctance on the part of the demonstrators that has resulted in all the paralysis.