The next few months are going to be very crucial for the federal government as well as the provincial government of Sind. The PTI has declared to stage a sit-in on April 24, 2016, at the same place where it had been staging its sit-ins in the federal capital in the past. Interior minister has banned D-Chowk of Islamabad for political rallies and it is being redesigned in such a manner so as to make it difficult for the political parties to stage protest processions there. If he now allows it to be used for sit-ins, he will be going back on his word and if he sticks to his decision possibility of a head-on collision with the PTI workers cannot be ruled out altogether. Both Imran Khan and the interior minister must find a way out of this issue so that no untoward incident occurs. Both of them would have to show a high degree of political acumen, farsightedness and spirit of give- and- take and avoid confrontation which this country cannot afford at this critical juncture of its life. In a way the interior minister is now in a catch-22 situation.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the PTI is to launch a people’s movement in Sind towards the end of this month under the caption ‘ Wake up Sind, Save Pakistan’ The hands of Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is already on the wrong side of 80 are already full and this new agitation is going to add to his worries. The PTI’s mass awakening movement comes on the heels of political movement of Sind’s nationalist parties who have grouped together under a single banner in their crusade against the PPP’s government of Sind.
It is good to note that the Commission named by the PM to separate the wheat from the chaff in the information contained in the Panama leaks is going to give its verdict about the entire written material concerning Pakistani leaders instead of limiting its inquiry to the next of kin of the PM. Even if ten percent involvement of our politicians in the shady deals of offshore companies is proved it would be essential to pass a legislation banning them to contest polls for any public office in this country for the next 15 years as the common man is fed up with those leaders who have been bringing a bad name to this country through their financial shenanigans. The financially corrupt have simply no right, whatever, to sit in the august bodies like parliament. The Bollyood legend Amitabh’s chances to become president of India might be affected too if charges against him in the Panama leaks are established. Let us hope that the Commission appointed in the matter would live up to the expectations of the common man and it would do its job without doing any favour to anyone. A great responsibility devolves on its shoulders. Let us also hope that extreme care would be exercised while framing the Terms of Reference for its adjudication. They shouldn’t be ambiguous and they should cover all the questions that the common man has in his mind about use of offshore companies by our politicians for hiding their black money. Latest reports indicate that the PPP has rejected this Commission. The government had better take the opposition into confidence and remove their reservations in the matter, if any so that inquiry into the matter gets underway quickly.