Due Awakening By Farhat Siddiqui

If there was ever any doubt then today’s proceedings of the Joint session were a testament to the democratic inclinations of Imran Khan. A popular leader who does not need to be in the assembly, once again puts country first. Despite the propagated narrative IK is the only leader of Pakistan who has strived, sacrificed and has respected the sanctity of Parliament and the true essence of democracy. He is so tunneled vision in his belief that he tends to fall time and again in the trap of the scheming status quo.

Despite the horrific rigging and the business of government being run outside the assembly in the first year, making the assembly a complete joke, PTI continued to participate and struggle within the system till they came head to head with the government regarding its unwillingness to investigate rigging and tendered their resignations.

In the last few months the pressure was on PTI from every quarter to come back to the assemblies after the agreement onJudicial Commission. Although the wisdom of this decision is not shared by everyone in the party but Yemen intervention being a National Security issue PTI decided to come back to the Parliament in true faith. However leaving itself vulnerable on the issue of legality of resignations was nothing but a blunder.

Imran Khan’s instincts about the deceit of Nawaz Sharif are right on the money and whenever he has pushed them aside he has suffered. Pleading with PTI to come back to the parliament and using the urgent joint session for that purposewas a trap which PTI fell in one more time. The behavior on display in the presence of the PM by the whole government bench and specially the Defense Minister reeked of government’s attempt to disrespect and dishonor IK and PTI. Never have IK or any member of PTI displayed such disgusting behavior inside the Parliament as was on display today by the so called champions of democracy.

The non-acceptance of resignations was a calculated decision by the government realizing their vulnerability if pushed into by-elections. The government not only successfully side stepped that ditch but in the process was also able to launch a deliberate attempt to discredit IK and PTI. The uneasy compromise on the constitutional parameters of resignations and their previous statements should have been considered very seriously by the core committee.PTI’s readiness to go into by-elections in case of a legal issue on resignations should have been put on the table. There was no need to rush into this on two day notice without an official statement from the government on the status of the resignations.

There is nothing to be gained by putting yourself on the receiving end of a belligerent enemy without leaving space for your narrative. The sleaze the likes of Khawaja Asif, Farooq Sattar and others are capable of is not a surprise. They were given a golden opportunity to show their true colors and they used it. Have we not learned anything?

Any hit on the prestige of an ideological leader and the party is painful, disheartening and confusing for the supporter. The communication and clarity of policy within the party was and remains a weak point. Yes we can perhaps understand and support the leadership’s decision to go back to the assembly but is it an august assembly or a rigged assembly… Can we make up our minds???

The sacrifice of 126 days of dharna has been squandered by such lack of clarity, foresight and planning. The trust on the leadership’s intentions and sincerity might not be under question today but unfortunately the soundness of strategy and the ability of the party to finish the game on top is.

Now those around IK who were so desperate to go back to the assemblies need to get their act together and earn their worth by putting all efforts to ensure a successful run in NA 246 and Local body elections..

However no matter how strong the opposition let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind, we will always fervently stand by our leader Imran Khan who once again showed class and grace under fire and despite facing classless and belligerent outbursts chose to keep the respect of the assembly within the chamber. He is the one true representative of Pakistan and its people

by webmaster@insaf.pk (tkiadmin)