Opposition political parties, an anti-government collective and a banned outfit have taken to the streets in countrywide protests in recent weeks, which has signalled trouble for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s regime.
Anti-government PDM stands up for the impoverished
The opposition in recent days has heightened its criticism of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government, with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) taking the lead in holding demonstrations across the country.
On Monday, PML-N followers protested outside the Karachi Press Club against the recent petrol price hike and demanded the government reverse the decision to raise prices. They also raised their voices against inflation in general. In a meeting of PML-N leaders on Wednesday, Sharif also announced a protest against inflation in Rawalpindi the same day. The party also finalized a schedule of nationwide rallies against skyrocketing prices under PTI, which would start Thursday.
Nationwide protests began Friday in various cities under the banner of anti-government collective Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), which is being led by PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F). The parties’ followers have been out against inflation which has reached a burgeoning nine percent. Anti-government protesters have spread through cities like Karachi, Larkana, Lahore, Sukkur, Mardan, Jacobabad, Mohmand, Ziarat, Mingora and others. PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif has been insisting citizens to come out to the streets against the increasing burden on common folk caused by inflation in the country.
Opposition parties add to anti-government efforts
Opposition parties Jamaat e Islami (JI) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have also added to the mounting pressure on PM Khan in separate rallies since the past few days. On Monday, the same day as PML-N’s demonstration against rising petroleum prices, JI followers marched to the same tune from Baitul Mukarram Masjid to Hassan Square. On Friday, JI staged a protest outside Muzaffargarh Press Club, with many followers chanting slogans against inflation. JI Ameer Siraj-ul-Haq had announced last week that the party would also hold a massive rally outside D-Chowk, Islamabad on October 31 against the ruling elite’s poor economic policies.
Separately, the PPP also came out against the PTI regime on Friday, with the protest led by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in Malir District, Karachi. The politician said that only PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari could lessen the economic burden on the people. Last week, PPP Peshawar Wing had also announced that it formalized a schedule of protests against rising prices of basic commodities.
Banned outfit TLP holds cities hostage
In the latest protests, followers of the proscribed outfit Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) have come out in throngs since Tuesday to pressurize the government to release their leader Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi.
Rizvi is the son of TLP founder Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who passed away from natural causes in November 2020. TLP began its ‘Namoos-i-Risalat’ rally on Tuesday, staging a sit-in outside the group’s headquarters on Multan Road. On Thursday, TLP announced they would march onto Islamabad, which set in motion a high alert amongst security officials in the capital city. As the sit in picked up force in Lahore, internet services were reportedly shut down in various parts of the city, while the Metro Bus service was suspended in Rawalpindi to brace for the protest.
