Manzar Naqvi
KARACHI: Pakistan’s political temperature rose further on Wednesday as the standoff between the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) showed little sign of easing, with the opposition pressing ahead with its long march while the government urged it to call off the protest and return to the negotiating table.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has renewed his offer of talks to PTI, asking the party to abandon its march on Islamabad and resolve political differences through dialogue. The government, however, has also made clear that it will not allow the protest to disrupt the federal capital or threaten public order.
The latest confrontation follows the breakdown of two rounds of negotiations between the government and opposition, which had initially raised hopes of a political breakthrough. The talks ultimately ran into a deadlock, with counterterrorism policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and PTI’s demand for access to its jailed founder, former prime minister Imran Khan, emerging as major sticking points.
PTI maintains that meaningful reconciliation is not possible without consultation with Imran Khan and insists that its protest campaign is a legitimate exercise of its democratic and constitutional rights.
The government, meanwhile, says further negotiations remain possible but has linked their resumption to PTI ending its protest campaign and cooperating on counterterrorism measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The growing confrontation has raised concerns that Pakistan could be heading towards another cycle of street agitation, administrative restrictions and political uncertainty at a time when the economy is struggling to consolidate recent gains.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have favoured giving political dialogue another opportunity before considering other measures, reflecting efforts within the ruling coalition to prevent the crisis from escalating further.
The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has emerged as a particularly sensitive element of the dispute. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed that rising terrorism in the province must be stopped “at any cost”, underlining the government’s growing concern over the security situation.
The Centre has sought greater cooperation from the provincial government on counterterrorism measures, while PTI argues that any security strategy should be developed through consultation between the federal and provincial governments and relevant stakeholders.
The political dispute has consequently become intertwined with a much wider national security debate.
At the same time, opposition voices have urged the government to exercise restraint. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has called on the authorities not to obstruct PTI’s march, arguing that peaceful protest is a democratic right.
The immediate challenge for the government is to maintain law and order without allowing administrative measures to deepen political confrontation. For PTI, the test will be to ensure that its mobilisation remains peaceful and within constitutional and legal limits.
The economic implications of another prolonged political confrontation are also becoming increasingly important.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has warned that protests and long marches could hurt exports, imports, manufacturing and the broader economic recovery. Political instability can also weaken investor confidence, disrupt transportation and supply chains and increase uncertainty for businesses.
Pakistan can ill afford such disruption when the country is seeking to attract investment, strengthen exports, create employment and maintain macroeconomic stability.
Political observers believe there remains room for de-escalation despite the breakdown of the latest negotiations. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has also indicated that dialogue could still be revived if the party’s representatives are allowed to consult Imran Khan.
This leaves both sides with a narrow but potentially important opening.
Rather than allowing the confrontation to move towards another political collision, the government and opposition could return to negotiations with a limited initial objective: lowering political temperatures, agreeing on rules for peaceful political activity and establishing a workable mechanism for continued dialogue.
Parliament could also provide a platform for addressing political differences and rebuilding communication between the government and opposition.
With Pakistan simultaneously confronting economic pressures, terrorism and governance challenges, another prolonged political crisis could carry consequences far beyond party politics.
The coming days will therefore be crucial in determining whether the country moves towards confrontation or compromise.
For both the government and PTI, the choice is increasingly clear: continue down a path of protests, barricades and political escalation, or return to dialogue before the current standoff develops into a deeper national crisis.
