Political tensions between the ruling quarters and the opposition, especially PTI, are growing with every passing day. The latest round of verbal battle between political rivals revolves around the health issues of imprisoned former PM Mr Imran Khan.
This episode was triggered by the surfacing of news about a brief medical procedure of the former PM in a hospital in Islamabad. PTI stalwarts are applying all their energies to accuse the government of exercising willful negligence about the medical treatment of their leader. As of today, a team of doctors visited Adyala Jail and undertook a medical checkup of Mr Khan.
Besides this, the apex court also moved expeditiously and appointed a lawyer to physically verify the living conditions, including the medical facilities made available to the former PM in the jail. There is no second thought about it that every sort of care of any prisoner remains the legal responsibility of the jail administration. This clearly means that government machinery can never take refuge from any negligence committed by the jail administration.
Ironically, the culture of verbosity and rhetorical discourse prevailing in domestic politics often blurs the ground realities. The same is happening in this particular issue of the former PM’s medical care. PTI leadership, as well as its social media firebrand influencers, are creating hype with a bundle of unverified information. Negative role played by a handful of foreign-based active social media supporters of PTI needs no further elaboration.
Some of them were awarded punishments by the courts for willfully propagating against the state of Pakistan. A bunch of absconders has gradually hijacked the political narratives and decision-making mechanism of a major political party. Genuine supporters of PTI are in a state of constant disappointment primarily due to ill-conceived protest plans and a lack of unity among the various tiers of party leadership.
Tough remarks of the Peshawar High Court on the matter of undesired road blockades by none other than the ruling party reflect the unsatisfactory performance of PTI’s provincial and central leadership.
Discord in the PIT ranks on the recent issue of medical examination and subsequent treatment of the party’s founding chairman is enough to comprehend the level of strategic confusion. Continuous political failures of the PTI after facing defeat in the vote of no confidence are the outcome of unwise plans executed carelessly with baseless emotional vibes.
The current protest strategy adopted by PTI about the medical treatment of the former PM is beyond comprehension. This is probably happening for the first time in the country that a party is vigorously closing the roads in the province it rules. This unique kind of protest has hit the people very hard and raised valid objections on the political acumen of PTI.
Though the health and well-being of the former PM should not be taken casually by both PTI and the government, a major party like PTI should act maturely while protesting on any issue. Obvious cracks in various tiers of party leadership are denting the political credibility, as evident in the ongoing blame game surging in ranks and files.
Tough remarks of the Peshawar High Court on the matter of undesired road blockades by none other than the ruling party reflect the unsatisfactory performance of PTI’s provincial and central leadership. While countering the rhetorical assaults of PTI, the government coalition of PMLN-PPP seems comfortable with the directionless, angry protests of the opposition in its own stronghold, KP.
The writer is a freelance contributor based in Islamabad.