Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Rallies / Protests

A hasty retreat​

Editorial
November 28, 2024

POLITICAL immaturity has cost the PTI dearly once again. It appears things may not have come to this had Bushra Bibi, leading her first protest, listened to those around her instead of insisting on leading the crowds to D-Chowk.

As it turned out, the party leadership was forced to beat yet another furtive retreat, which has greatly demoralised its cadres. Their disgruntlement is the price that the party must pay for failing to manage expectations and provisioning adequately for all contingencies when it decided to march on the capital.

It had previously been pointed out that it was a mistake for the PTI to turn its protest in Islamabad into a ‘do or die’ moment and that this would create difficulties for its own leadership if things did not pan out as expected. Though the party was able to gain much ground over the course of three days, its strength proved brittle once the state unleashed its power in full.

However, the government would be wise not to gloat. Nor should it contemplate extending its campaign of violence against the PTI and its leaders, thinking that it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough. It would be a mistake to underestimate the general discontentment in the public against the state and its repressive policies. Much harm has already been caused to national unity by the authorities’ mishandling of this protest march and the violence that surrounded it.

As our history bears witness, beating a major political party into submission can yield fleeting victories, but it causes lasting harm. The ruling parties should be wary that a new normal has been set for how protests may be dealt with in the future. Today, they may be beneficiaries of this new policy; tomorrow, they will likely find themselves in its crosshairs.

There is an urgent need for all stakeholders to move towards a political settlement of the crises facing Pakistan. The two sides in this conflict need to realise that their positions are not tenable: repression, censorship, violence and continuous agitation will only continue to bleed the country and weaken it further.

Unless they agree to abide by a rules-based order, the space for public participation in the political process will continue to shrink until, eventually, all political parties lose their relevance for the people.

The unhealthy obsession with ‘crushing’ political opponents, which has grown unchecked over the past decade, has led the country down a very dark path. It is unfortunate that democratic transitions were repeatedly sabotaged during this period, as it could have allowed this trend to be arrested and reversed. Now, it seems it is up to a handful of individuals to set things right. The nation remains at their mercy.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2024
 
ghazi52 said:

A hasty retreat​

Editorial
November 28, 2024

POLITICAL immaturity has cost the PTI dearly once again. It appears things may not have come to this had Bushra Bibi, leading her first protest, listened to those around her instead of insisting on leading the crowds to D-Chowk.

As it turned out, the party leadership was forced to beat yet another furtive retreat, which has greatly demoralised its cadres. Their disgruntlement is the price that the party must pay for failing to manage expectations and provisioning adequately for all contingencies when it decided to march on the capital.

It had previously been pointed out that it was a mistake for the PTI to turn its protest in Islamabad into a ‘do or die’ moment and that this would create difficulties for its own leadership if things did not pan out as expected. Though the party was able to gain much ground over the course of three days, its strength proved brittle once the state unleashed its power in full.

However, the government would be wise not to gloat. Nor should it contemplate extending its campaign of violence against the PTI and its leaders, thinking that it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough. It would be a mistake to underestimate the general discontentment in the public against the state and its repressive policies. Much harm has already been caused to national unity by the authorities’ mishandling of this protest march and the violence that surrounded it.

As our history bears witness, beating a major political party into submission can yield fleeting victories, but it causes lasting harm. The ruling parties should be wary that a new normal has been set for how protests may be dealt with in the future. Today, they may be beneficiaries of this new policy; tomorrow, they will likely find themselves in its crosshairs.

There is an urgent need for all stakeholders to move towards a political settlement of the crises facing Pakistan. The two sides in this conflict need to realise that their positions are not tenable: repression, censorship, violence and continuous agitation will only continue to bleed the country and weaken it further.

Unless they agree to abide by a rules-based order, the space for public participation in the political process will continue to shrink until, eventually, all political parties lose their relevance for the people.

The unhealthy obsession with ‘crushing’ political opponents, which has grown unchecked over the past decade, has led the country down a very dark path. It is unfortunate that democratic transitions were repeatedly sabotaged during this period, as it could have allowed this trend to be arrested and reversed. Now, it seems it is up to a handful of individuals to set things right. The nation remains at their mercy.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2024
Click to expand...


Hasty retreat!

Give me finest of SSG, put them in D chock, they can wear all their shinny medals and funky uniforms, BUT they wont be armed, and I will pick and choose their heads from top of nearby building with my sniper.

Lets see how many face that with smile on their faces.
 
RescueRanger said:
I've deleted both his and your posts.

Guys I mean this anyone who abuses someone's family will get thread banned.

Stop it, this goes for anyone.

Don't abuse family please.
Click to expand...

Great message. People need to understand no matter what, we can't make difference to Pakistan politics on PDF so why resort to personal attacks, yes debate but in a civilised manner.

One point we all must agree on is people of Pakistan must not be shot dead via brutal state force, it's genocidal and unacceptable, if today you support this then tomorrow it will be our turn. People celebrated when TLP members were getting hunted down in Pakistan, banned, killed through direct police firing, illegal detention without trial for months, leaders died in jails, banned, declared as foreign sponsored agents and today PTI is facing the same, Nawaz Sharif also faced the same aswell as PPP. Jahalat is the biggest problem in Pakistan, which leads to party baazi, lies, propaganda, narrow minded people, ego issues.
 
Awwad said:
Exactly what I was saying. Now it will be armed resistance against a khowarij army

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And avoid all the chaos, this now must be done, along with the cronies. "Institution" lit up zia plan when they thought he became a liability. This rat however, has become the single biggest danger to the federation of Pakistan. No ifs and buts.

General_Asim_Munir_(Pakistan).jpg
 
Taimoor said:
Give me finest of SSG, put them in D chock, they can wear all their shinny medals and funky uniforms, BUT they wont be armed, and I will pick and choose their heads from top of nearby building with my sniper.
Click to expand...

They are only brave against unarmed civilians, why do you reckon they don't
fight India or America? because they get their @rse kicked.

In November 2011 these Phapoo's got a phainty in the Salala Check post attack,
they didn't even fire back. Where was their bravery then? Then Abbottabad raid,
they were no where to be seen, next day Kayani told Zardari to ring Obama
and congratulate him.
 
Taimoor said:
And avoid all the chaos, this now must be done, along with the cronies. "Institution" lit up zia plan when they thought he became a liability. This rat however, has become the single biggest danger to the federation of Pakistan. No ifs and buts.

View attachment 84855
Click to expand...


Not just him. Entire chain of command. No sane person with even 1% humanity ailve in them can imagine to pull a trigger on unarmed fellow countrymen even if they are paying a million dollars in salary.
 
Taimoor said:
Hasty retreat!

Give me finest of SSG, put them in D chock, they can wear all their shinny medals and funky uniforms, BUT they wont be armed, and I will pick and choose their heads from top of nearby building with my sniper.

Lets see how many face that with smile on their faces.
Click to expand...
We have seen how your ilk mocked shaheeds on social media too.

We have seen your govt kill dozens in Lahore TLP too.

So pipe down, no moral high horse here.

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Also, it was an ambush! wait for the darkness of the night, turn off lights and then attack.
 
Taimoor said:
Hasty retreat!

Give me finest of SSG, put them in D chock, they can wear all their shinny medals and funky uniforms, BUT they wont be armed, and I will pick and choose their heads from top of nearby building with my sniper.

Lets see how many face that with smile on their faces.
Click to expand...
Also pti protestors were armed, at least a few of them. And they were caught on camera.

That’s how police and paramilitary troops suffered bullet wounds.

Also this is from today, so much for your moral lectures

IMG_0103.png
 
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