Sense Of Statesmanship Required

The aggressive political tune and trend set by apparently disoriented supremo of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf few months back while launching a movement to send Nawaz back to home on alleged charges of rigging in 2013 general elections has now brought rival political forces to violent clashes.

The killing of an innocent PTI activist in Faisalabad is a dangerous start towards a bloody journey which this state can never afford. The PML-N led government at the centre has so far handled PTI and PAT prolonged protests with remarkable patience with no-blood-at-streets particularly the restraint on behalf of the government grew manifold after the initial blunder at Model Town on June 17.

But now the patience of political workers at the grass-root level is growing thin with every passing day. The clashes between two sides – PTI and PMLN – on the streets of Faisalabad can trigger a new wave of physical confrontation between the two rival parties. Imran Khan has the constitutional and democratic right to raise his voice on any issue but the provocative-style of his months-long struggle will serve no good to the state rather may lead to a civil war like situation in an already terror-hit country.

The political clashes in various cities of the country are not only inflicting huge loss to an already ailing economy but also sending bad signals of our national disintegration to world community. The contentious issues between PTI and PML-N may be settled through dialogue in coming months but the animosities developed between activists belonging to these two parties at the local level may need years or decades to get healed. Ultimately poor workers at the lower level will have to pay the price of existing political dispute between Khan and Sharif.

As per consensus advice of political leadership of the country, Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif must resolve existing political crisis on the table and the dialogue is the only way to end this persistent national frenzy. PTI chairman should call off his shut down calls and avail government’s offer of talks for a peaceful settlement of a political issue with political means avoiding abuses and violence.

Meanwhile the country is again in the grip of a blasphemy debate which started with Junaid Jamshed’s reckless TV talk show. An overwhelming segment of society is demanding severe penalty under blasphemy law for Jamshed while some segments like Tableeghi Jamaat and PTI are seeking forgiveness for the singer-turned-televangelist.

Without any exaggeration, dozens rather hundreds of Muslims and other persons belonging to different faiths are languishing in jails over blasphemy charges since years. A large number of accused but (innocent) persons are behind the bars under false and fabricated cases framed against them on grounds of personal vendettas by their opponents. It is a sorry figure that due to various social pressures particularly those posed by the self-styled religious elite of the country the courts of law are also reluctant to dispose of such cases on speedy-trial basis. But in this case, at the one side same Mullahs and on the other liberals from the PTI are seeking forgiveness for Jamshed. Are not these double standards?