Imran’s tirade against Zardari not uncommon

ISLAMABAD: Even the so-called semblance of ‘unity’ in the opposition parties on a minimum agenda was torn apart by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan when he used the same old offensive language against Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Asif Ali Zardari.

The PTI and PPP -- the two apparent greatest advocates of an investigation into offshore companies to exclusively aim at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, excluding all others including their own top leaders -- are now targeting each other with the first salvo having been fired by Imran Khan as usual.

The Nawaz Sharif government can’t be exceedingly happy than it is now, seeing the two uneasy opposition allies at each other’s throat. The PTI chairman did not do anything uncommon but acted perfectly according to his well-recognized scheme and disposition -- everyone who disagrees with him and doesn’t join his bandwagon is a corrupt rascal, the scum of the earth, deserving his thrashing in the harshest possible tone.

Senior PPP figures like Aitzaz Ahsan, who continue to call for a probe into the offshore shell relating to the premier, were embarrassed by Imran Khan’s tirade against their leaders Zardari and Syed Khursheed Shah. The PTI chief’s praise for Aitzaz Ahsan in fact marred and created suspicion about the latter’s position in the PPP. Aitzaz Ahsan is the most vociferous and ferocious campaigner in his party, speaking loudly for a judicial inquest into the issue, focusing on the premier.

Imran Khan’s harangue against Zardari reflected his overconfidence in the wake of Raiwind public meeting that he can alone force the prime minister to resign his office or present himself for accountability, as he puts it, and doesn’t need the support and solidarity of any political party. However, it is an established fact in Pakistan’s history that no single party has been able to get the result that he expects. Obviously, the weight, thrust and force of such a campaigning party becomes extraordinary if it has the backing of other opposition entities.

It is no secret that a quiet tussle and competition has been going on between the PPP and PTI over getting maximum political mileage out of the Panama Papers disclosures. Naturally, since they can’t reap it if they work together, they have to act independent of each other. Therefore, their ‘alliance’, though an uneasy one, was unnatural since the very beginning and was unlikely to last for long.

In anger, Imran Khan demanded invocation of minus-one formula in the PPP meaning Zardari’s ditching, an arrangement that has been feverishly sought by different circles regarding major political parties including the PPP, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). Ostensibly, such elements had been treating these parties as some kind of a disciplined regiment where such high level changes can be made through an order.

However, this desire has never been accomplished. In the case of the MQM, Altaf Hussain himself is responsible for the implementation of minus-one formula in his party. Had he controlled his language and not delivered anti-Pakistan ranting on August 22 and his previous countless harsh speeches, he would not have met this fate. In reality, his utterances became intolerable and indefensible for the MQM Pakistan, which put in operation the minus-one formula as if it was waiting for its application since long after having sick and tired of his actions.

With the renewed fight with the PPP that would rage in the coming days, Imran Khan will face the repeat of 2014 when he was left all alone in the political arena with all the parliamentary forces having teamed up against him and his partner-in-protest Allama Tahirul Qadri.

When the PTI chairman’s chief companion, Sheikh Rashid, says that on October 30, the day Imran Khan has fixed for jamming Islamabad as well as the Nawaz Sharif government, trains, planes and oil tankers will be made to halt, the real designs and motives behind the protest become immensely clear. Certainly, thousands of affected people will ‘sincerely pray’ for the success of this siege and will welcome it. It also makes it evident that the PTI wants to create a scene. However, it will be a great test of the government in general and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan in particular to deal with the protest so as  not to let its sponsors to get the cherished results.