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The political temperature in Pakistan has reached its peak these days, the government, on one hand, is unwilling to compromise on the accountability process and the opposition parties, on the other hand, are pushing hard to overthrow the Imran Khan-led government.
In yet another cabinet shakeup, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Hafeez Shaikh as the federal minister for finance, while Sheikh Rashid was handed the interior ministry portfolio. Meanwhile, the opposition parties, under the banner of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), are set to hold another public gathering, this time in Lahore.
The 11-party alliance has also announced to hold a long march to Islamabad in the last week of January. Let’s take an in-depth review of the ongoing political turmoil in Pakistan.
Cabinet reshuffle
Today (Friday), Prime Minister Imran Khan reshuffled several key cabinet ministers. Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has been appointed the new interior minister. Azam Swati has been appointed as the new Railways Minister.
Federal Minister for Interior Brigadier (retired) Ijaz Ahmed Shah has been given the portfolio as Minister for Narcotics Control. This is the fourth federal cabinet shakeup in less than three years of the PTI government.
The reshuffle comes days after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled that unelected advisers and special assistants could not head government committees and cabinet proceedings.
PDM’s strategies
The 11-party alliance is all set to hold its next rally in Lahore this weekend ignoring all warnings despite the rising number of coronavirus cases. Since rallies and protests seem unlikely to bring down Imran Khan’s government, the opposition has decided to resign en masse from parliament.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is confident that this could lead to the collapse of the PTI government but it is not clear whether all opposition parties and lawmakers are on board. The other course of action for the PDM is to hold a decisive long march to Islamabad. This seems an uphill task given the upcoming winters and the worsening COVID-19 situation.
Any effect of resignations?
It would not be wrong to assume that PDM will receive a devastating blow if around 20-30% of its members fail to submit their resignations. Not only will their narrative suffer but the pressure they are desperately attempting to mount on the incumbent government would also lose force.
Political analysts opined that the resignations from the National Assembly will create difficulties for the government but the government will overcome this crisis by holding by-elections. However, if resignations are also made from the provincial assemblies, new elections will have to be held in the country.
Meanwhile, it has been learned that the PDM is only resigning from the National Assembly and not the provincial assemblies. The PPP has refused to leave the Sindh government and PML-N does not seem keen to resign in Punjab.
The political turmoil
In light of the above, a conclusion can be derived that PDM will not benefit a great deal from tendering resignations. PDM would be left with no other alternative but to commence a nationwide agitation movement in order to save face. All the red lines will be crossed by PDM’s leaders and no institution could possibly be expected to escape unscathed.
As a strategic move, PDM may instigate riots in order to exert more pressure on the establishment. It will dedicate all its resources and political capital to ensure that its long march attracts a large number of crowds.
