Opinion The PM’s speech

Gilani’s speech was prominently displayed in all newspapers on December 23. The Express Tribune distilled the essence of the speech: “Conspiracies are being hatched to pack up an elected government… [Whether we remain in the government or in opposition,we will continue to protect the rights of the people… If the army considers itself a state within [a state,then it is unacceptable… We will have to come out of this slavery. If we remain subordinate to this system,then there is no need for parliament… They are being paid from the state exchequer,from your revenue and from your taxes. All institutions are subservient to parliament… If somebody thinks they are not under the government,they are mistaken. They are under the government and they shall remain under the government,because we are the elected representatives of the people of Pakistan.”

Khan’s second innings

After cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan’s massive rally at Lahore’s historic Minar-e-Pakistan grounds last month,the announcement of another rally in Karachi’s iconic Mazar-e-Quaid,on Jinnah’s birthday,created a furore. Khan had applied for permission from the Sindh government,but was refused on the grounds that the premises were under the federal government’s purview. His party,the Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) petitioned the Sindh high court. This week,permission was formally denied and granted too.

Dawn reported on December 21: “The Sindh high court on Wednesday denied the PTI permission to hold a public meeting at the Quaid’s mausoleum on December 25… Moreover,the court directed the party to contact concerned authorities in order to find an alternative venue to hold its public meeting.” However,permission was granted after the PTI was made to give an undertaking,reported The News on December 23: “a resident engineer (of Mazar-e-Quaid)… said the PTI was allowed to hold rally on a condition that it would not harm the property and would also not put hurdles for visitors on December 25.”

The ranks of Khan’s PTI are growing and the entry of a famous name and face lends it the publicity that it is looking for. The latest to join Khan’s team is former foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri. The Express Tribune quoted him on December 21: “Pakistani youths fully support PTI Chairman Imran Khan and this popularity among the youth has forced me to join the party.” Kasuri’s family runs a big Western-style education business in Pakistan and apparently,many young supporters of Khan’s PTI are or have been associated with the institutions.