Imran Khan vs Imran Khan
First, listen carefully to these words: “They are only increasing their vote bank. I appeal to these elements not to confront the state. I appeal to you to consider this country, which is emerging from difficult times, and by the grace of Allah, a better time is ahead. Do not harm this country for the sake of your politics or to increase your vote bank. If you do this, I will make it clear that the state will fulfill its responsibilities.
It will protect people’s properties and lives. We will not allow any vandalism or traffic disruptions. I appeal to you not to push the state to the point where it is forced to take action. Long live Pakistan.”
These are not words from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressing the nation recently, nor did Shehbaz Sharif issue this statement when the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with his convoy, was approaching Islamabad’s D-Chowk with full preparations. Instead, these words are from a speech by Imran Khan during his tenure as Prime Minister, when he warned a political and religious party against protesting and marching towards Islamabad, stating that such actions for political gain were not in Pakistan’s interest and that the state would not allow them.
If we relate Imran Khan’s speech from his tenure to the recent events in Pakistan, where protests by PTI have caused inconvenience for millions, blocking motorways and roads, especially Rawalpindi and Islamabad, it feels as though Imran Khan is warning himself. He seems to be questioning why PTI is marching on Islamabad to increase its vote bank when the country is moving towards economic improvement.
At a time when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is taking place in Pakistan, with leaders from various countries attending, why is PTI protesting to shine its politics? At a time when the IMF has agreed to lend Pakistan money for three years, and international financial institutions and rating agencies see economic improvement, why is the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leading a protest that appears like an attempt to conquer Islamabad?
PTI’s style of protest has a history. They claim peaceful protest is their constitutional right, but was the 2014 sit-in peaceful? During that time, did they not attack PTV and Pakistan Radio? Was there no vandalism? Did protesters not enter the Parliament’s premises? During the 126-day sit-in, were the routes to Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Federal Secretariat not blocked by stick-wielding protesters? Did these sit-ins not delay the Chinese President’s visit to Pakistan? Did Imran Khan not label Islamabad’s lockdown as a form of protest? Did the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at that time not try to march on Islamabad under Imran Khan’s orders? Is May 9th not a reality?
Imran Khan and PTI should reflect on their political approach, whether it’s their style of protest or their use of the economy for political purposes.
