After four months of appealing and cajoling the alienated establishment to somehow or other arrange fresh elections and finding it unresponsive, Imran Khan has decided to confront the ‘neutrals’ head-on. He has become particularly desperate after the arrest of his chief of staff on charges of inciting insurrection. A desperate IK has now decided to revert to his familiar bullying tactics. Taking resort to parables, he now talks about the Mongol hordes led by Genghis Khan, who resorted to inhuman acts as part of psychological warfare to spread fear among the populations that they invaded.
Imran Khan has claimed insiders told him that ‘neutrals’ are responsible for the ongoing crackdown on PTI. Also, that on May 25, the police were ordered from ‘above’ to use violence against PTI protestors. He has learnt that the Chief Election Commissioner is delivering verdicts against PTI due to pressure from above. Even the ‘torture’ on his aide took place after orders from above. The people who came to meet IK received calls from the intelligence agencies. The PTI chief alleges that a certain Mr Y has come to Islamabad and that he knew his plan
Imran Khan is however not fighting for democracy. He is least bothered about the establishment’s intrusion into civilian turf. For him the word ‘neutral’ is in fact a pejorative term when applied to the army. For good three years he felt comfortable for being on the same page with the army. He feels disturbed now because the army is no more willing to bear the burden of Imran Khan’s failed policies.
The federal government must not forget that the PTI has developed roots among the people as shown in bye elections in Punjab and Karachi’s NA-245. The best way for the ruling alliance is to compete with the PTI through pro-people policies. It would be unfortunate if there was a display of vengefulness on federal government’s part. The PTI is within its right to hold peaceful protests but it cannot be allowed to create lawlessness or resort to violence. Those who violate laws should be taken to courts.
