Legal and Constitutional Position of all Stakeholders of Dharna

Yet another political drama that the Pakistani nation is witnessing is the mob currently marching in Islamabad and its continuous hostile behavior towards the newly inaugurate government.

Opinions are always divided when it comes to the tactics and motives of those who use dharnas as a form of protest. Maulana  Fazl ur Rehman and his opposition alliance are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister – a move they considered necessary for “strengthening the supremacy of parliament”. There are some liberals who are also in support of this conservative led dharna and calling for a new election since they argue that the government has failed to deliver in political, social and economic matters. According to Maulana Fazl ur Rehman the sky high prices, plummeting jobs and business opportunities, rampant corruption and economic stagnations are disillusioning the nation nation against the government. The PTI Government of course considers this anti-government drive merely a political stance motivated by ideology instead of delivery of rights and services to nation. According to PTI government, Maulana is using the “religion card” to play with public sentiments and opposition alliance is only betraying nation against the progressive vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

It is true this mass mobilization from religious seminaries is not a major threat to PTI government, but it has brought the government under pressure by threatening to disrupt the current political system in Pakistan. Maulana also made controversial statements when he claimed that the Pakistani Army is involved in manipulating the results of last year’s elections. This despite DG ISPR’s remarks that the Pakistan army is an impartial institution and has nothing to do with politics and justification of the position of Pak Army in rejecting the claims of Maulana and showing institutional support with an elected government.

Now the question is this: how can the country’s political crisis be diffused?

All stakeholder of the current Pakistani political system want an honorable exit from Islamabad for the Maulana because the major political parties are against the dharna politics. JUI has announced they may prolong their protest sit in until they get their ultimate objectives, urging Azadi March participants to view it as fulfilling “our national duty to topple this government”.

And yet the resignation of the PM is very unrealistic in the current situation and the Government will want a political solution of this crisis. It is true that representatives have made dialogue with the opposition Rehbar committee, but a dead lock is still prevailing. As it stands, because Maulana has announced the conversion of Azadi March into Serut-Nabi (PBUH) conference, while we know where everyone stands and wants – what they’ll do to get it and peacefully resolve the situation is unclear.

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