The protests led by Tahir-ul-Qadri and Imran Khan are gradually turning into a rebellion. People have stormed the PM house twice, reportedly captured the state TV, and there have been numerous clashes between the police and the protesters [1]. The situation aggravated after both the protest leaders decided to march onto the PM house, prompting the government to use force against the protesters for the first time since August 14. According to some sources live rounds were also fired by the police during the crackdown amid excessive tear gas shelling and brutal baton charge[2]. The protesters retaliated with slingshots and wooden sticks. In the end, the police was not able to successfully disperse the crowd. At least three protesters died during the clashes and several were wounded. The only purpose this crackdown served was to further enrage the crowd.
Javed Hashmi left Khan’s side after he announced that PTI will march onto the PM house with PAT. Hashmi views this step as a symbolic rebellion to Democracy. He was also unhappy with Khan’s decision to cooperate with PAT because Qadri doesn’t believe in the democratic ideals. In fact the PAT workers have been vocally calling on the army to intervene. Moreover, he was also aggrieved for not being consulted before Khan took the decision to move forward to the PM house [3].
Hashmi’s reservations certainly have weight. Although abandoning the protesters at the most crucial moment can obviously be seen as a betrayal to the cause, but his apprehension that he might be unknowingly contributing to a possible military takeover has become more realistic now. Most importantly, cooperating with Qadri will come at a high political cost for PTI as his agenda seems to be nothing other than causing chaos to make the situation ripe for the military to intervene. Today PAT workers ransacked the state TV while Khan kept appealing to both the PAT and PTI workers not to enter any state building. Hashmi stated yesterday that if the actions of PTI lead to a coup, they’ll have to spend next 20 years apologizing to the people.
On the other hand, a retreat will render Khan’s position so weak that even his supporters will abandon him. There is no way back once he decides to go forward except at the cost of his political career. So, he should think the decisions through from every possible angle. PTI is now in a very tough situation. Although the statement issued by ISPR after a meeting of corps commanders suggests that army is not in the mood to intervene [4], but the direction in which the crisis is going can create perfect conditions for a coup. Imran Khan is trapped between two very dangerous possibilities. His success depends on whether he will be able to create a third one.
1. Dunya News
2. Dawn News
3. Dawn Urdu
4. ISPR Press Release No. PR184/2014-ISPR
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