The Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) power show came to an end on Monday evening, with Maulana Fazlur Rehman announcing his potential return if the need arises. Were the PDM’s objectives achieved? Let’s wait and see. The apex court adjourned the hearing for a week in the petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is seeking a review of its April 4 order to hold elections on May 14. The verdict on this plea will be the deciding factor.
According to estimates, approximately 15,000 people attended the protest outside the Supreme Court building. Among the leaders who spoke on the occasion were Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maryam Nawaz. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was represented by its local leaders, Nayyar Bukhari and Raja Imran Ashraf.
The judiciary received a lot of criticism, with speakers accusing it of bias and being pro-Imran. There was even a placard, briefly held by Maryam on stage, that criticized Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial for greeting Imran Khan when he appeared in the apex court. Chief Justice Bandial had to clarify that he used the phrase to greet everyone and expressed deep respect for everyone. He emphasized the importance of “etiquette and manners” for everyone.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan believes that the entire show aimed to pressure the judiciary and force the chief justice to give a verdict contrary to the Constitution. He has once again called for peaceful protests in support of the Supreme Court, alleging a plan to ban the “largest and only federal party in Pakistan.” He expressed fear that his wife, Bushra Begum, would be imprisoned and he would face a 10-year sentence. He vowed to continue his fight, stating he would prefer death over being enslaved by crooks. He also presented evidence to clear his party workers of any involvement in the attack on the Lahore corps commander’s house, dismissing it as a conspiracy to crack down on his party.
Recently, during a special corps commanders conference, the military leadership announced that action would be taken against the arsonists under the relevant laws of the country, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act. Following this announcement, the caretaker setup in Punjab took action and granted approval to pursue those who vandalized public and private properties and military installations in accordance with the Pakistan Army Act.
The confrontation is far from over. The PTI chairman continues to strongly criticize the army chief and the present setup, while the PDM government’s criticism of the Supreme Court grows louder.
Data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics shows that large-scale manufacturing shrunk by 25 percent in March compared to the same period last year. This marks the highest monthly decline since the outbreak of Covid-19. With all indicators showing a negative trend, Pakistan’s economy is unlikely to recover anytime soon. It is important not to forget that amidst all the commotion, there is a loan repayment of $3.7 billion due in June.
