A day after it began, PAT+PTI long march is beginning to reach Islamabad and the Kaptaan himself is expected to arrive later tonight. Imran Khan’s attitude has been comically arrogant, as apparent from his Twitter feed:
Allah has answered my prayers & after 18 yrs Pakistani nation has risen 2 reclaim Quaid’s Pakistan. #AzadiMarchPTI pic.twitter.com/kwwu10n2VE
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 14, 2014
The government has been completely distracted by the marches, having to give full attention to security and responding to the crisis. Meanwhile, life moves on and while all political leaders are fighting on the streets, Pakistan continues to suffer from purely preventable problems.
This week, five more polio cases detected – including in Punjab – bringing year’s total to 115. The stock market has crashed 1300 points. Terrorists continue their war against Pakistan, last night attacking near Samungli Airbase bringing a startling reminder of devastating attack against Kamra Airbase in 2012.
This is not meant as a defence of Nawaz Sharif’s policies, or a justification of opposition complaints. Let me just ask this: Imagine if instead of organising long march to overthrow the government, Imran Khan organised a long march to end polio. Imagine if instead of organising long march to overthrow the government, Imran Khan organised a long march to defend minorities. Imagine if instead of organising supporters to deliver blows, Imran Khan organised supporters to deliver text books.
Even if Imran Khan’s ‘Azadi March’ succeeds, PMLN government will be gone but polio, terrorism, sectarianism, lack of education will all remain. Imran Khan knows he can organise massive action. He just doesn’t know what he should be organising action against.
