Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced that he will not remain a part of the current political system in the country anymore and his party will resign from all assemblies soon. He announced this on 26th November during his address to participants of PTI lang march in Rawalpindi and with this announcement he also ended the long march against the government almost after one month.
The announcement made by the former prime minister has put the political observers in a dilemma. While his supporters seemed satisfied calling this decision a masterstroke, his opponents made fun of the decision saying instead of toppling Shahbaz Sharif’s government, Imran Khan announced to tumble his own governments in two provinces. The opponents also called it a face-saving effort for ending the ‘failed’ long march.
For the political observers, this announcement caused confusion as along with the resignations, the point of dissolving the assemblies of the two provinces, where the PTI governments are established, seemed unclear. Now PTI, in its high-level meeting, after consultation with legal experts, is adamant that it will go for the dissolution of assemblies.
On the other hand, the ruling alliance, which is in opposition in Punjab and KPK, has joined hands to thwart this possible political attack of PTI. It has also been announced that they will defend the assemblies till the end and will foil Imran Khan’s wish to dissolve the assemblies just like they foiled his efforts to appoint an army chief of his choice.
This process has started a new phase of bilateral political confrontation in the country. The country is already experiencing severe instability and political uncertainty due to the long ongoing political war between the parties for a long time.
With the end of PTI’s long march on November 26th, it was hoped that now the political battle will get a break- at least until the general elections. However, after Imran Khan’s announcement of resignations, both sides have entered a new battle with new political tactics and, it is felt that the country is once again going to become an arena of political confrontation for the months to follow.
It is a great misfortune for Pakistan that the politicians are totally devoid of positive attitudes and political tolerance. There is a need to revise this approach. Politicians must realize that the country cannot afford prolonged and permanent political instability anymore. This situation will lead the country to further economic and social chaos, which is not in anyone’s interest.
