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The political crisis worsens as the government resorted to a crackdown on PTI activists ahead of the party’s long march to Islamabad. The precarious law and order situation could deteriorate after the government decided to stop the march at any cost.
Punjab police raided the houses of PTI leaders who went underground to evade arrest or detain. The party claims over eleven hundred raids were conducted and hundreds of activists have been rounded up. A blanket ban has been imposed on rallies and public gatherings in Punjab, Islamabad and even Sindh
In Islamabad, the government has sealed the Red Zone with containers and Section 144 has been imposed for two months. A contingent of over 22,000 police personnel and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed to prevent any public movement. The government has also decided to hand over security arrangements to the army.
Despite the chaos, Imran Khan is adamant to carry on with the long march, saying the government has been adopting the same tactics as military dictators. He asked the people to break the chains of fear and march on with him. The defiance shows we should be ready for a clash as the government will certainly take strict measures to stop them.
The crackdown on PTI workers and harassment of their families must be condemned. It is the right of every citizen to hold peaceful protests. There is even the Supreme Court’s ruling on the protocols for holding rallies and public gatherings. However, it is clear that the government has decided to deal with the protestors with an iron fist.
The PTI is facing one of its toughest test but is no stranger to such situations. It has once again drawn parallels when Imran Khan vociferously campaigned against the PML-N government. This time around, he is unlikely to avoid confrontation and there will be further chaos. The PTI should ensure it doesn’t take the law into its own hands while the PML-N should refrain from heavy-handed tactics.
The question remains if the long march will achieve the desired results. Both sides are without the support of their financiers who are presumably ‘neutral’. Thus, the nation should get ready for yet another showdown.
