When the DG ISPR appeared on our TV screens on Thursday evening, those interested in politics were glued to him. Ready to comprehend very sentence. Minutes before the press conference, I spoke to a senior journalist and asked him if the military say it is legally and constitutionally bound to support the state, would the statement be considered an explicit support of the prime minister.
The next question I asked was what would happen if we were told that the army had nothing to do with politics. This time replied, “It will go in favour of the opposition”. The purpose of the establishment’s neutrality is to strengthen the opposition, which the opposition has been demanding. He said if the establishment was on the sidelines, the government will be ousted by an in-house change.
You must have heard the press conference. It took the nation info confidence and became the headline of all morning newspapers. “The army has nothing to do with politics.”
Gentlemen, the establishment has once again openly declared its neutrality and this time at a decisive stage. It is said that the Establishment is never neutral in the power game, but sometimes it gives the impression. This is important as elections are lost, won and governments are changed.
Alongside the press conference, a police operation was taking place inside the Parliament Lodges in Islamabad. The commotion could destabilize the entire political situation. The responsibility for this unfortunate incident should be placed on the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) or the leader who invited Ansar-ul-Islam activists to Parliament Lodges. Ansar-ul-Islam, a sub-branch of JUI-F, is a trained force which manages security and meetings. It has a special uniform have been parading in military style, giving a guard of honour to Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
Two years ago, Maulana Fazl called for a long march and sit-in in Islamabad. Ansar-ul-Islam activists were present alongside him wielding batons and taking control of the situation. This is a contingent of party guards. In other words, the hands of the party.
The question is why an organisation whose reputation is to establish discipline through the use of force was sent to the Parliament Lodges. What was the purpose of doing so? Was Maulana and his comrades unaware that no such group would be allowed to enter?
If PML-N and PPP had done the same thing, what would have happened except riots and fighting? Maulana Fazl’s reaction was also extraordinarily aggressive – announcing a nationwide blockade, blocking roads and staging protests in various places would massive commotion and disturbing people.
We have just witnessed sit-ins and protests of a religious organization a few months ago which affected millions of people. Now why is Maulana repeating the same scene? He claims having won the support of e members of parliament for the no-confidence motion. He claims that he has won the game. This is not the time to take to the streets and protest, it is the time for drawing room politicians.
Overall, the opposition has suddenly become aggressive in its approach and breathing fire. Even at the Union Council level, it was observed that the party losing the election makes a fuss while the winner controls his anger and remains calm as he sees the victory. Why is the opposition not doing this?
The next day, Bilawal Bhutto held a press conference and found a conspiracy behind a drone camera that accidentally struck Aseefa Bhutto several days ago. He replied in a sharp tone. This is not the tone of a politician who has done power politics and brought a successful no-confidence motion.
Imran Khan’s anger and frustration is understandable. The opposition has attacked him, his government is in serious danger, anything can happen. The attitude of his allies is deplorable, they are repeatedly going to the opposition and blackmailing him.
Many groups have sprung up in the party, even ministers are signaling a coup. By the way, Imran Khan is also making aggressive speeches. His accent is crossing the line of rudeness and he should refrain from doing so.
This opposition’s attitude is wrong and irrational. Bilawal Bhutto could have ridiculed Imran Khan in his typical sarcastic ways, slanders, with mischievous smile. It would have logical and understandable given the government was on the way out.
This is the attitude that Maulana Fazlur Rehman should adopt. He should not have called Ansarul Islam workers to Islamabad. If the war is to be won by the parliament, then they need to control their nerves.
There are two possible reasons for this. The anger, frustration and aggression of the opposition is signaling their inadequate preparation or any unforeseen obstacles which they never imagined.
Or is it part of a larger agenda, greater game? To do so means taking matters into one’s own hands. In such cases, many people are used, intentionally or otherwise from both government and opposition.
It was wrong for Ansarul Islam workers to enter rooms of Parliament Lodges. But there is also no justification for the manner in which the police operation was carried out. It is also wrong to arrest parliamentarians, push workers out into police vehicles. If the administration wanted, it could have easily talked to Maulana and got these workers out. It was not such a difficult task.
If these party workers are shown on media, there is a fear of commotion and the public would pressure Maulana himself. The manner in which the Interior Ministry conducted the operation is a provocative method. It will cause a commotion, things will go wrong and no one will benefit.
The government, opposition, political, democratic circles should think about this. We should all think what is going to happen in the country. Is it what is being shown or is there some other game behind it?
In the final analysis, we must all stand with the constitution, law, democracy and political system. Political leaders, parties, activists, media, social media, writers should not be used by invisible forces. Stay alert, stay awake, and look out.
