Independence Day to be different this year

ISLAMABAD: Road to the Independence Day this year is completely different, highly positive, compared to the last time.
The difference is abundantly striking, conspicuous and outstanding. People are relieved of extreme tension and depression, caused by the political bedlam.This time of last year was very grim, forbidding and depressing as a number of ominous fears were writ large on the horizon, heralding dark days ahead.
Preparations were at their peak to lay a siege to the federal capital through a long march, starting from Lahore, by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).
Valid fears of bloodshed loomed large and intense machinations were being devised to spawn this situation. Political animosity was touching new highs and instability engulfed Pakistan. The country was stuck up in a vicious circle, chiefly due to a conspiracy, which had triggered the political unrest and chaos. Unique language, unheard of before, was being used in politics.
There were also widespread concerns and alarming bells were ringing about the blowback of the Zarb-e-Azb, which had been launched a few weeks back. People at large were extremely scared of the retaliation of the terrorists and militants, who were being targeted in the military campaign.
As usual, the Karachi city was at its worst with target killings, extortions and kidnapping for ransom being rampant. Karachiites were having sleepless nights like many years.The all-embracing official visit of the Chinese president to Pakistan had been cancelled due to political turmoil, concentrated in Islamabad.
As a whole, the nation was demoralised and despondent, seeing little or no hope of improvement in the situation.Whether one admits it or not, the present scenario, when the nation is bracing up to celebrate the Independence Day, is exceedingly awesome, overwhelming and encouraging by all permutations.
There is a remarkable decline in the incidence of terrorist attack, courtesy of

the Zarb-e-Azb. Suicide bombing, which continued to rock Pakistan for over a decade, has become largely non-existent.
The Karachi operation specifically the March 11 raid at the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters Nine Zero has done wonders, resulting in the unprecedented fall in all the heinous crimes.
People of Karachi are now so much better off in terms of the excellent law and order situation. After decades, a whopping amount of Rs8 billion was spent on the business on the Eidul Fitr, which is an all-time high record.
It was because of the powerful operation of the Rangers and police that the forced collection of Fitrana on this Eid was successfully stopped, thus saving billions of rupees from going into the coffers of the criminals and terrorists.
The counter-terrorism National Action Plan (NAP), unanimously formulated by all the political parties with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif playing the lead role is being implemented with full force. It has produced substantial results. The terrorists are on the run, being hunted down by the security agencies in their sanctuaries.
The killers and planners of Safoora and Yohanabad have been arrested and are in the process of being brought to justice.The political mayhem is at its lowest ebb after the three-member inquiry commission nailed the poll rigging allegations, leveled by the PTI and others. Its report, accepted by all and sundry with the PTI agreeing with it with reservations, has led to political stability and harmony.
The last irritant was thrown aside on Thursday when the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) withdrew due to immense persuasions by the prime minister and other parliamentary players their resolutions seeking unseating of the PTI lawmakers.
The PTI is back in the assemblies, willing to play within the system, vowing to act as a forceful opposition. It has the distinction of causing all the political disorder and commotion for over a year by touching the pinnacle through its long march and 126-day sit-in at the D-Chowk. Different developments particularly the findings of the inquiry commission have tempered it down and it is now working as a normal political party.
The Supreme Court has validated the trial of hardcore civilian terrorists and militants by the military courts.The work on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has physically started with the prospects of changing the fate of people of Pakistan.
After many years, Pakistan hosted an international cricket match series when the Zimbabwean team came here. The tour passed peacefully.The grim situation prevailing in Balochistan has also undergone improvement with bright chances of further betterment.
Now, there is increased coordination, cohesion and harmony between the civil and military leaderships as the prime minister keeps consulting with Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on key national issues particularly the campaign against the terrorists and criminals in different parts of Pakistan. The conspirators, who orchestrated the political chaos as per a specific script and ultimately failed to rock the democratic system, are out of their entrenched official positions.
Last year, planned political mayhem had not only weakened Nawaz Sharif but created extreme dangers for the democratic dispensation being packed up. But the government, which was running for life this time last year, is now much stable. There is none now talking about general elections before 2018, when the present assemblies will complete their constitutionally mandated 5-year term. Conspiracies have died their own death.