The political rhetoric between the federal government and the party has become more prominent after the change in the date of the proposed long march of the PTI.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced on Friday that the march will now start from Peshawar on October 4 instead of September 27.
According to him, the decision was taken unanimously in a meeting of the party’s political committee and the march will be peaceful.
During a press conference in Islamabad, Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar criticized the political strategy of the PTI and the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
He claimed that the practical preparation for the march announced for September 27 was limited and the party’s political grip has also weakened compared to before.
This is the federal government’s position, while the PTI has been calling its activity a political and constitutional right.
The issue of the long march has become more important at a time when the Islamabad High Court has already issued clear orders regarding the closure of roads in the federal capital and affecting the free movement of citizens.
The court had also directed the provincial governments not to use government resources or machinery in any political protest.
The government has also been taking the stance in recent days that it is necessary to maintain law and order during the protests. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had said that the government will follow the decision of the Islamabad High Court.
He also mentioned the potential damage to the economy and the people from the long march.
Atta Tarar also linked the situation of terrorism and law and order in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the political debate in the press conference. He accused the provincial government of not taking effective steps against terrorism.
However, these are political allegations and should be seen as the stance of the concerned party. The federal government has made similar allegations against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government before.
On the other hand, Sohail Afridi has called the long march peaceful. He says that it is necessary to deal with the threats facing Pakistan and more details regarding the party committee’s decision will also be revealed.
Thus, after the new date of October 4, the next phase of political activity will now revolve around administrative preparations, court orders and the procedure for the protest.
In the coming days, it will also be clear at what level PTI mobilizes workers and organizational structures for its announced activity and what arrangements federal and provincial institutions make in accordance with court instructions.
We welcome your contributions to The Pakistan Observer. Submit your blogs, opinion pieces, press releases and news features to our editorial team.
Please send your submissions to our News Desk or Editorial team. We look forward to hearing from writers, journalists and contributors.
