Pakistan Reader# 354, 26 May 2022
Abigail Miriam Fernandez
On 25 May, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, along with other party workers made their way into Islamabad and marched towards D-Chowk pushing aside containers and confronting tear gas shelling.
Imran Khan while addressing the protesters at Islamabad's 9th Avenue and gave a six-day deadline to the government for announcing elections and dissolving assemblies, warning that he would return to the federal capital with the "entire nation" otherwise. He said, "I had decided that I will sit here until the government dissolves assemblies and announces elections, but of what I have seen in the past 24 hours, they (govt) are taking the nation towards anarchy." Meanwhile, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the government seeking a contempt proceedings against Imran Khan for "violating" the apex court's orders with regard to the party's Azadi March.
Before entering Islamabad Imran Khan said, “This nation does not accept this imported government.” He called on the people to come out for what he termed as a “jihad” for “true freedom.” Further, he called the incumbent government a “group of thieves,” claiming that they were the most corrupt people in the country and said that they were afraid of the masses which was why they had placed containers. Additionally, he said that the main demands for the march to the capital were the immediate dissolution of the National Assembly and a date for the next general election. Previously, PTI’s Central Secretary General Asad Umar announced that “history will be made” through the ‘Azadi March.’
Meanwhile, as the PTI took to the streets there was a heavy crackdown on the marches. A day before the march, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah announced that the federal cabinet had decided it would not allow the PTI to hold its long march to the capital. He stated that the government has decided not to allow the PTI to spread “chaos and disorder” in the guise of the march., adding, “They will be stopped so they cannot propagate their misleading agenda.” Following this announcement, the government launched a crackdown and rounded up over 1,000 PTI leaders and workers to curb the march. On the day of the march, PTI workers and police clashed in Lahore after the demonstrates managed to push their way through the containers deployed at Batti Chowk by the government to stop the protesters from reaching Islamabad. The police used tear gas following this incident. Additionally, the government authorised the deployment of the army in the Red Zone to “protect important government buildings.”
PTI’s turn for a long march
Since coming to power in 2018, the then PTI government witnessed several demonstrations against it. The culmination of these marches was seen in the Pakistan Democratic Movement launched in 2020 by the opposition against the PTI government. The opposition rallies both in the streets and in parliament to oust Imran Khan and his government, the success of which was witnessed in April, with the passing of the no-confidence motion. However, since then the PTI has pushed the “foreign-funded conspiracy” narrative as a reason for his removal and promised to fight against the incumbent government. Thus, it is once again Imran Khan and the PTI’s turn to take to the streets. As pointed out in an opinion in Dawn, just before Imran Khan’s removal from office his popularity graph seemed to have plummeted to a new low. However, following the vote of no-confidence, the situation changed dramatically with his narrative resonating with large sections of the population that held deep-rooted anti-American sentiments.
The government’s crackdown
Until two months ago, the government was in the place of the current place of the PTI, but unlike during the PTI rule, the government has launched a serious crackdown on not only the PTI’s march but also its leaders and party workers. This unprecedented crackdown has resulted in the march taking on a slight violent turn as seen with the clashes with the police. However, the crackdown comes as a surprise because until 23 May the government decided to let Imran Khan’s long march on Islamabad go ahead, only to take a complete U-turn on the matter after a meeting attended by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif. Following this, the PML-N decided that an early election would not be ‘dictated’ by Imran Khan and authorised Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to ‘deal’ with the PTI marchers. The government’s change of plans reveals the government’s apprehensions about the PTI and its desperation to reassert itself as it resorts to using force. Additionally, the government seems to be looking toward the security establishment to help it address the situation.
The idea of marches in Pakistan
Long marches and sit-ins in the federal capital have been in vogue for decades in Pakistan. The idea of a long march has been picked up not only by politicians but also by civilians who march for various causes. However, long march used by political parties has become a frequent phenomenon in the country. Until 2014, the most famous marches were led by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Following this, the PTI sent a precedent after holding the longest dharna while the Faizabad Interchange, a spot for the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan's venue of choice for its protests.
Keeping to the traditions, all major political parties in the last couple of months have uses these long marches to achieve their agenda. In a short span of two months, Pakistani has witnessed long marches spearheaded by veterans in the field and beginners. However, the idea of marches and their ability to move beyond the festivities and sloganeering is something that is yet to be seen.
References
“PTI expects to ‘create history’ with march,” Dawn, 24 May 2022
Zahid Hussain, “Imran Khan’s march to chaos,” Dawn, 25 May 2022
“Crackdown belies govt claims of tolerance to PTI march,” Dawn, 24 May 2022
“Azadi March: As Imran's caravan makes way to D-Chowk, govt authorises deployment of army in Red Zone,” Dawn, 25 May 2022
Nasir Iqbal, “From PPP to PML-N to PTI — A history of long marches and sit-ins in Islamabad,” Dawn, 25 May 2022
“Back to bedlam,” Dawn, 25 May 2022
“Army called in to protect Islamabad’s Red Zone from PTI marchers,” The Express Tribune, 25 May 2022
“PTI long march reaches Islamabad following day-long battle with law enforcers,” The Express Tribune, 25 May 2022
Zulqernain Tahir, “SITUATIONER: Who ‘green-lit’ govt action against PTI?,” Dawn, 25 May 2022
“Govt to stop PTI from long march to Islamabad: Rana Sanaullah,” Dawn, 24 May 2022
Haseeb Bhatti, “SC dismisses govt's petition for contempt proceedings against Imran,” Dawn, 26 May 2022
Azadi March: Changing plan to stay at D-Chowk, Imran says will return in 6 days if elections not called,” Dawn, 25 May 2022
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