ISLAMABAD: After the latest political developments, some journalists who are critics of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has spoken up against the opposition’s political moves including horse-trading and steps leading to violence.
In the major political developments, the PTI government and the opposition parties have unveiled a plan to organise power shows against each other on the same venue in Islamabad that could lead to violence.
On the other hand, politicians from the treasury and opposition benches were publically debating on horse-trading and the open sale of consciences by the lawmakers.
While slamming the style of politics, the host of Express News programme The Review, Shahbaz Rana said on Twitter that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) will not serve democracy if they oust the PTI government through horse-trading.
No-confidence motion: Fawad Chaudhry reveals PTI’s plan to stop MNAs from voting
He said that turncoats should be buried once for all. “Bringing no-confidence motion is a constitutional right of the opposition but it should be done democratically and without buyin out PTI MNAs [Members of the National Assembly].”
PPP, PMLN and JUIF will NOT serve democracy,if they ouster the PTI government through horse trading. Turncoats should be buried once for all. Bringing no confidence motion is a constitutional right of opposition but it should be done democratically and without buying out PTI MNAs
— Shahbaz Rana (@81ShahbazRana) March 14, 2022
A senior journalist and former PEMRA chairman, Absar Alam gave his opinion on the current political situation, saying that bringing a no-confidence motion and its success will weaken the movement of the constitutional and civilian supremacy in the country.
Alam added that the success of the no-confidence motion will waste the years-long sacrifices of the nation.
میری رائے ہے کہ حکومت کے آخری سال میں تحریک عدم اعتماد لانا یا اُس کا کامیاب ہونا آئینی اور سویلین بالادستی کی تحریک کو کمزور کر جائے گا۔ قوم کی کئی سالوں کی قُربانیاں رائیگاں جائیں گی۔
آپ کا کیا خیال ہے؟— Absar Alam (@AbsarAlamHaider) March 14, 2022
The TV anchorperson and The Review host, Kamran Yousaf said that the success and failure of the opposition’s no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan will be based on the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) whether its lawmakers would put their consciences on the sale or not.
He was of the view that the no-confidence motion will meet success if the PML-N settles some of its issues.
ن لیگ کہ ایک رہنما کے مطابق تحریک عدم اعتماد کی کامیابی یا ناکامی کا انحصار اس بات پر ہے کہ ن لیگ اپنے ضمیر کا سودا کرتی ہے یا نہیں! ن لیگی رہنما کے مطابق اگر ان کی جماعت نے کچھ معاملات پر سمجھوتہ کر لیا تو تحریک عدم اعتماد کامیاب ہو جائے گی!
— Kamran Yousaf (@Kamran_Yousaf) March 14, 2022
D-Chowk, political battleground
The no-confidence motion is slowly heading towards violence as Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) head Maulana Fazlur Rehman issued directives to the activists to reach Islamabad on March 24, whereas, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) called a political rally at D-Chowk on March 27 in response to the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) public meeting on the same day.
Yesterday, PDM head and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had announced in a presser to hold a protest demonstration at the Constitutional Avenue (Shahrah-e-Dastoor) of PDM parties on March 24. He made the announcement after attending the dinner hosted by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif in the federal capital to the opposition parties.
According to Fazlur Rehman, the opposition workers will depart for Islamabad on March 23 and reach Shahrah-e-Dastoor on March 24.
Political parties reluctant to show cards ahead of no-confidence motion
It is pertinent to mention here that PTI’s federal minister Asad Umar had announced via a Twitter message that Prime Minister Imran Khan decided to hold a historic public gathering in Islamabad on March 27.
On the other hand, PML-N senior leader Rana Sanaullah told a private news channel that the PTI-led government chose violence. He then announced that PML-N will also organise a public meeting at D-Chowk in response to PTI’s Islamabad power show.
Analysts said that the political temperature is consistently rising as the time of voting on the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan is reaching and a little mistake in statements will add fuel to the fire. They expressed fear that the workers of PTI and PML-N could come face-to-face on March 27 as they both chose the same venue for holding power shows.
Earlier, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed had announced that Islamabad security could be handed over to the Pakistan Army or Rangers. The announcement of Rasheed has indicated that the federal government would use all options to control the situation.
Analysts said that Fazlur Rehman has not only called the opposition workers to Shahrah-e-Dastoor of Islamabad but also hinted at choosing by themselves later about when to leave the venue. They said that the opposition parties have signalled to stay in Islamabad till March 27 and all convoys will use Shahrah-e-Dastoor to reach Islamabad which could lead to violence.
They added that the federal government’s decision of power show outside the parliament building would lead to violence while attempting to stop lawmakers from attending the NA session. They suggested the federal government postpone the power show immediately to avoid violence.