Pakistan is facing a challenging time with international and domestic conflicts. Russia has locked its horns with the West and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s ill-timed visit to Moscow has put Pakistan on the spot. While the entire West is putting its weight behind Ukraine during this war Pakistan should have stayed neutral just like China. But with poor foreign policy since day one and getting no response from Washington, Khan took a frustrating step without realizing its repercussions. Amidst all this, the political temperature within Pakistan is touching its threshold. Constant meetings of opposition parties with each other and with Khan’s allies has worried the PM who used to say “ghabrana nahi hai” (don’t worry).
‘Strike the iron when it’s hot.’ That’s what PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto did by kicking off a 10-day-long march towards Islamabad from Karachi. The timing of the march was perfect to mount public and political pressure on Khan. Already the opposition has decided to bring a no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister and supposedly a forward bloc of the ruling party led by the PM’s ex friend is ready to vote against him. All this has cumulatively worked in favour of the opposition, specially for the PPP which has taken an individual stand by marching against Khan.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has got overwhelming support from his home ground and is aiming for a huge crowd in the capital gathering from all over the country. Amidst this pressure the PM announced reduction in prices of petrol and diesel, and electricity just after the People’s March entered its second day. This was a sign of victory for Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who had successfully gained the momentum from the start of the march. The optics of the People’s March are alarming for Kha,n who in his address to the nation sounded weak and defeated. With a short time and nothing much to offer, Khan has lost the battle already. Khan’s unpopular decisions, disconnect from masses and personal vendetta with opposition and his own party people has left him with no space to rescue his unpopular government. The damage is already done, his ego and arrogance has led him towards downhill.
In politics it’s all about how one reacts to a particular situation, it’s a battle of nerves. Khan is calling the wrong shots under pressure. The PTI tried to counter the People’s March in Sindh just to create a conflict but ultimately faced miserable defeat. Some federal ministers, including the Foreign Minister, made an awful attempt to agitate but couldn’t get any substantial response.
Now, all eyes are on Bilawal, who is young and energetic with a charismatic personality. He is a crowd puller; and has the same charm as his mother and grandfather possessed. This time he is accompanied by his younger sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari who mirrors the image of Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto; this duo will surely gather a good crowd in Punjab.
If Khan stops the march from entering the capital then the situation can get ugly. The PPP, with a history of facing challenges under dictatorships, will not revert back if pushed away by a government which is already weak; rather the PPP will gain more political strength.
If the no-confidence motion gets successfully passed in favour of the opposition while Chairman Bilawal enters Islamabad, then a huge share of credit would be given to him. People who are already affected by inflation, instability and weak governance of Khan would cheer Bilawal for taking an initiative in getting rid of PTI’s government.
Such movements always energize the workers of a party, and here the plus-point of PPP is a strong co-ordinated party structure and ample experience of struggle. While the PML(N) is a victim of its own internal crisis as to who will be the next in the driving seat. Mian Nawaz Sharif being in London and the obvious cold war between uncle and niece has created much confusion within their party ranks. However, collectively the opposition is on the same page to oust Imran by hook or by crook.
The match is headed towards its final over, Kaptaan is on a weak pitch, and a young dynamic batsman with blazing eyes, wearing a jersey with Bhutto written on it, is at the crease. The young Bhutto is charged, composed and in a good form, and knows when and where to hit the ball, while the aged bowler has lost the pace and morale. However, the People’s Eleven looks strong and energized while the Tabdeeli Eleven is in an awful shape as its key players are not satisfied with the poor decisions made by the Kaptaan. The stadium is packed with a charged crowd chanting slogans in favour of the People’s batsman. The match has entered towards a nail-biting climax and the predictions suggest the People’s victory.
