By Brig(r) Mehboob Qadir
In my assessment PTIs latest protest march towards Islamabad was the last heave in peaceful struggle for restoration of people’s political rights and recovery of popular mandate swindled away by the sitting government.This was also the last barrier for lawful ,patriotic conduct that the Army smashed through while supporting ,against the will of the people ,an illegitimate regime that it had brought to power in the first place.
The protesters have been dispersed with the use of brutal force and hundreds have been arrested.It appeared the protesters did give a good account of themselves despite being unarmed and ill-organized to face a massed attack by govt forces.The Army it seems had a major role to play in this avoidable ugly episode of crushing of the lambs.Details are emerging of killed and wounded but surely the mayhem did take place in the late hours of the night with a definite intent to be indiscriminate in use of violence by switching off all street lights where the protesters were camped.
PIMS has reported receiving 6 dead bodies and 39 to 40 each injured from both sides.Any political analyst who has sufficient grasp of the nature of our political sentiment and that of such movements will be able to tell the effects of last night’s action which was the culmination of a hard and inflexible state stance towards dispute resolution. What one can do is make a reasonable guess here.
The foremost is the Army,a major loser in this conflict of power which sided whole heatedly and very visibly with the illegitimate govt in suppressing this agitation.It provided muscle and spine to the unsure Police, Rangers and FC amassed inside the ‘defensive’perimeter.For the first time the soldiers took control of the entire Constitution Avenue from Serena Hotel right up-to Margallahs and Marriotts Hotel.That signaled GHQ’s complete willingness to support swindlers.If they also took part in the violent dispersal of the protesters than the fate of civil – military amity or regard must be considered as sealed.The army was considered by the people as the last self respecting and patriotic institution to resist its subjugation by the bone corrupt politicians for their self perpetuation.They have already destroyed every other institution where victims could petition for redress of their grievances against the state heavy handedness ,the last being the mutilation of higher judiciary.Thus from now on the Army may rest assured of the loss of the last iota of faith and regard among the people whose effects during war and peace are going to be catastrophic for the national security.
A most inopportune handle has been provided for fifth columnists and hostile elements to insert into the gulf and inject venom in the minds of the people against the armed forces.It has to be kept in mind that the Army’s regard index is already quite low in the popular esteem particularly after disclosure of GHQ’s regrettable meddling in politics during the last three years and then becoming ,traditionally, an openly hostile institution against the very political party whose protest it just helped to route .In simple terms the country’s security has been dangerously jeopardized through a series of missteps by an institution made solely responsible for the same by the Constitution.
On the other hand after the violent routing of the PTI protesters certain messages have been clearly posted.The entire state under its present dispensation has finally refused to engage in political conflict resolution with the country’s largest political party.That mean all recourse to peaceful protests and democratic avenues have been decisively shut by the state .The restoration of popular mandate and addressing grievances of the people have been finally denied.Last nights ill considered action has also helped to discredit current PTI leadership who believed in political negotiations leaving Imran Khan to deal with more volatile younger leadership like Murad Saeed, Saddam Tareen and many more who will now emerge. PTI’s resistance temperature will rise to violent clashes with LEAs, more arrests,blood shed and eventual public hatred will ensue.Knowing the govt’s track record it will mishandle this new and more difficult to handle surge and take the country to wide spread disturbances which might eventually jel into insurgency or even a civil war.In view of the mountains of ego and vast coercive state power one does not see much scope for sanity, political sagacity or care for negative consequences for the country.Meanwhile lets say bye to non violent Omar Ayub, Gohar Khan, Ali Ameen Gandapur,Shiblis and Ali Mohammad Khans.
Lets put our hands together and pray for the safety of our country.-This article is the personal opinion of the author not the policy of the World Tribune.
