Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan has been threatening a long march towards Islamabad against the incumbent government, demanding early general elections. However, he hasn’t given the long march call yet.
Before the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) verdict against Imran Khan in Toshakhana Reference, it was expected that he would announce the date of the long march this week as he said that the long march would take place in the current month.
However after his disqualification as a result of the ECP verdict, the situation has totally changed now and the question has arisen whether he will give a long march call in next few days or will adopt any other political strategy to cope with the new situation.
Some political analysts are of the view that the ECP verdict has increased the chances of Imran Khan’s long march as this verdict has ended all expectations of dialogue between the government and Imran Khan’s PTI. Moreover, Imran Khan disqualification has also reduced chances of PTI back-door talks with some state institutions.
The analysts argue that the ECP verdict has left no other way for Imran Khan except a final protest against the incumbent government and its concealed aides.
They say that the disqualification verdict has spread a severe anger among the PTI workers and supporters and Imran Khan will try his best to exploit this anger in his favor to mount up the pressure on the government and its aids.
On the other hand, some political analysts say that after the ECP verdict, the chances of Imran Khan announcing a long march have reduced as after his disqualification early polls are not in the favor of Khan anymore.
They are of the opinion that, before general elections Imran Khan would try his best to nullify his disqualification by the high court or supreme court and this process will take a long time.
The analysts say that if Imran Khan remains disqualified till general elections, rifts can take place in PTI on the issue of the next premiership candidate as there are many leaders in PTI who are eying on the slot.
