ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is unlikely to face any obstacle from the government in holding its public meeting in the federal capital on April 28 in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment in the Panama case.
The basic reason is the choice of the venue – the Parade Ground – to which the government is unexpected to have any objection because even in the past it has been urging the PTI to hold its public rallies at this place instead of any other location specifically the D-Chowk in Islamabad.
Previously, the PTI always insisted on its preferred venue to hold its public meetings that triggered conflict and tension with the government, which insisted not to allow rallies at such area because it falls in the Red Zone.
This time, the PTI’s apparent plan is just to organize the public meeting in the capital as part of its campaign meant for demanding resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and not to disrupt the normal life in Islamabad, which has been the case earlier. This is one of a series of rallies that it has scheduled in major cities over the next few weeks to cash in on the court ruling.
The purpose of this campaign is also to exert pressure on the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which is being formed as per the order of the top court in the Panama case, to get a report that favours the PTI and is against the prime minister and his children.
The JIT will comprise senior officials of four civilian organizations – National Accountability Bureau (NAB), State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) – and two premier spy agencies – Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI).
Before according a formal approval to the PTI’s request to organize its public meeting at the Parade Ground, the district administration of the capital will as usual work out the rules of the game in writing to be signed by the party, seeking a firm commitment from the PTI to adhere to it.
In the past, this was also exactly done, but the PTI mostly reneged on such terms, creating a crisis-like situation in Islamabad. The 2014 sit-in was an apt example to prove the point, when the PTI had told the administration that it will not cross a certain line, but it ignored the agreement. Later again, the two sides locked horns over the venue of another public show, but finally the PTI had consented to organizing it at the Parade ground. However, its botched up lockdown attempt had generated immense confrontation because of its reticence to capture and paralyze the capital.
The PTI has accepted the judgment of the apex court in the Panama case and is satisfied that the prime minister will be asked questions in connection with the business dealings of his family. Viewed in the backdrop of its acceptance of the verdict, its public campaign seeking his resignation is beyond comprehension.
While bowing before the ruling, the PTI has initially also rejected the JIT saying that the team can’t carry out due investigation with Nawaz Sharif staying as the premier. But it has now softened its stand to some extent. It is a matter of record that its demand about resignation was not accepted during hearings of the Panama case otherwise the Supreme Court would have issued such an order while constituting the JIT. It is obvious that the JIT has been formed by the top court and not any executive authority including the prime minister.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has also asked PTI chairman Imran Khan to play a constructive role in steering the nation out of the atmosphere of mistrust. “The nation trusts the courts which are performing their duties in accordance with law hence it approaches them seeking relief. Imran Khan is not an ordinary person and so his voice can bring further improvement and lead Pakistan on the path of progress.”