Is Quetta Rally Counterproductive For Opposition Coalition?

QUETTA: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)’s third rally in Quetta can prove to be counterproductive for the opposition coalition despite a massive mass gathering as ‘Azad Balochistan’ slogan echoed from the podium received an immediate backlash from the government and masses.

Is PDM crossing the lines by maligning state institutions first followed by such offensive slogans, which can be termed equivalent to treason?

Although, Owais Noorani who hurled this slogan in the mass gathering later apologized, the question be raised shouldn’t be the apology but the raising of such a slogan.

The top leadership of the opposition coalition including PDM Head Maulana Fazalur Rehman has not condemned the statement yet. Does it signify that the opposition may come forward to defend the statements like Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) did after its head’s speech in the inaugural PDM rally in Gujranwala?

Such slogans can be pleasant to hear for the country’s foes including Israel and India, who had been found involved in practices to destabilize Pakistan by exploiting enemies inside the border.

Information Minister Shibli Faraz on Sunday termed the Quetta rally as the “third piece of the axis of evil” with the other two being Israel and India.

This holds weightage as the PDM has certainly crossed the line as speaking against the state is unjustifiable.

The slogan has thus raised questions on the aims and objectives of the coalition as sequential objectionable content has come out from its rallies.

Previously, the PML-N Head Nawaz Sharif vilified the army’s serving leadership, accusing them of force changing election results.

Are such slogans under the banner of a political struggle to oust an incumbent government termed as ‘selected’ by the opposition acceptable?

The slandering of national institutions in mass gatherings that are given limelight by the international media as well would give the room of exploitation to the foes who are waiting for a loophole to turn things in their favor again.

Can the country allow such slogans after it has come out of the menace of terrorism almost after a decade and on its path to stabilization after getting clobbered by turmoil particularly in Balochistan?

It is high time for the heads and top leadership of the opposition parties in the PDM including the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), PML-N, and JUI-F Chief Fazalur Rehman to announce detachment from such narratives. They must also clarify why such slogans and statements are coming out of the PDM’s platforms.

Or else, it will take not much longer for the public to deem the PDM movement as an attempt to ‘sabotage’ the country and its political structure.

The question goes here is what if the condemnation does not come from the PDM leadership? Will it hold the moral value to hold rallies and protest against the government?

Can the political struggle be not run without such slogans and slandering state institutions?

PDM rallies have conceived many such questions in the minds of people.

The apology coming soon after the slogan was raised but doesn’t it display intent?

The opposition coalition must come forward to condemn such slogans at the earliest otherwise it can have repercussions beyond thoughts.