How Imran risks the system as well as his own future

ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan appears frustrated, far more than before. Apparent reason for his unusual discomfort is Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s alleged corruption against which IK believes forced lockdown of federal capital by his party is the only way out. 

However, many see it as a serious risk for the democratic rule. There are fears of violence that if aggravates could lead to military’s intervention, which without a doubt would be disastrous for Pakistan. Ironically, Khan says that in such a situation Nawaz Sharif will be solely responsible.

No leading political party including even Jamaat-e-Islami, coalition partner of the PTI in the KPK government, is agreed to what Imran Khan plans to do. Yet Khan is adamant that he would lockdown Islamabad for indefinite period to oust Nawaz Sharif.

Demand for accountability of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family is valid. It is also a fact that accountability is nowhere in the priority list of Nawaz Sharif and his government. Like its predecessor -- PPP government -- the Nawaz regime has also failed to fulfil the promise of setting up an independent accountability commission and fixing those who had plundered the nation’s wealth.

Still Khan’s plan of federal capital’s lockdown could not be supported. It is neither legal nor constitutional nor political. The PTI chief insists that his protest will be democratic and peaceful. In reality, he intends to block the federal capital from all sides and will not let anyone including the government servants, school children, private sector employees, poor laborers etc to go for work. Only ambulances and defence officials will be allowed to move in and out of Islamabad.

Imran Khan has warned that in case his workers were stopped from such a display of their “democratic” and “legal” right to protest, they would resist and fight with police and other law enforcing agencies. In the consequence of this fight if martial law is imposed, he recently said, Nawaz Sharif will be held responsible for it.

Whether it’s Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Awami National Party, Jamaat-e-Islami or Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan -- none of the opposition parties support Imran Khan’s mode of protest. The only exceptions from parliamentary politics of the country are Shaikh Rashid Ahmad and Chaudhries of Gujrat.

Dr Tahirul Qadri has announced to join PTI’s lockdown protest. Sunni Ittehad Council is also joining the PTI’s what it calls “final showdown” against the NS government. Interestingly all these entities were part of the 2014 sit-in. None of them has any considerable following in the masses.

However, PTI is a growing political entity. On the basis of number of votes it had received during 2013 elections, PTI is the second largest political party in the country. It has also formed government in KPK. Unlike non-entities like Shaikh Rashid’s Awami Muslim League, Chaudhries of Gujrat’s PML-Q or Dr TUQ’s PAT that all are known for looking for opportunities whether constitutional or unconstitutional to get share in power, Imran Khan and PTI have a future connected with the democratic system no matter how flawed and poor it is in its deliverance.

In case of any intervention, Nawaz Sharif will not be the lone loser. Imran Khan will also get nothing. Hence he must push his political agenda, continue protesting against government’s failures, remain focused on his campaign for institution building and keep pressure on Nawaz Sharif on the issue of PanamaLeaks.

But he should desist from taking unlawful routes, risky shortcuts or resorting to illegal protests and creating a situation that may endanger the whole system and upset the lives of ordinary citizens. He needs to understand that the 2014 sit-in in no way served PTI well. The past sit-in did not swell PTI’s popularity but dented its repute. How would the 2016 lockdown of Islamabad serve the PTI by creating difficulties for people?

On the issue of Panama Papers, the Supreme Court has already started hearing petitions filed by the PTI and other political parties. The government has already announced that it would not question the maintainability of the case but would let the apex court to settle the issue once for all.

Here is a golden chance for PTI to get Nawaz Sharif convicted on the basis of evidence and Panama Paper’s disclosure, which in Imran Khan’s view are the proofs of Sharifs corruption, without risking the system. Risking the system would mean risking political future of all democratic entities and that include the PTI.