The Saturday’s police operation against protesters camped at Faizabad Interchange sparked ferocious blowback from TLYR sympathizers across the country. The security forces, who swung into action early morning using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators, met with rocks and tear gas shells. Hundreds of protesters are reported to have wounded while fighting with law enforcement agencies. A number of senior police officials have also been injured in the clashes. The poorly-planned action on one hand failed to dislodge protesters while on the other it triggered protests in twin cities as well as other parts of the country. Given the crucial nature of the problem the authorities had to finally suspend the crackdown.
The countrywide developments also forced the chief of the army staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to issue an advisory to the government to handle the Faizabad sit-in peacefully saying that “violence is not in national interest”. Earlier, the Islamabad High Court, while expressing dismay over the federal government’s inaction against the Faizabad protesters, stated that the participants of the sit-in could be dispersed using options other than bullets.
But the question is what are the other options available to government or the law enforcement agencies to evacuate the protesters who have shown stiff resistance and a great deal of resilience during a day long police operation, which was initiated on the directions of the honourable court. Unfortunately the dialogue, which happens to be the only civilized way to resolve disputes, has miserably failed to make a visible headway. The government apparently seems to have caught between a rock and hard place. Any action against the protesters is likely to trigger massive protests across the country that would ultimately create an insurmountable chaos. The failed police action on the other hand has reduced the scope for a meaningful dialogue despite the fact that the government made several attempts to resolve the problem through dialogue but TLYR leadership is adamant about its demands and did not budge even an inch from its stated position.
The interior minister Ahasan Iqbal said that the government was attempting to clear the sit-in as part of its legal obligations after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the capital administration to evict protesters. “Our administration is acting on the court’s orders and we are completely supporting them,” he said. “We have made all peaceful efforts, but we are forced to act as the group has not budged. These people do not know that anti-Pakistan elements are using this to spread malice against Pakistan”, the minister said.
The government, as a last resort, has sought deployment of army to tackle this issue that has assumed sort of dangerous proportions. But the question that begs an answer is how come the employment of Army will help in peaceful evacuation of protesters without giving them full authority. The Army, as it clarified, is not a force traditionally used to disperse crowds or protesters. So prior to employment of army or a possible military operation the government must weigh each of the options available to it to seek a solution to the problem. As a last ditch effort government should send an all party delegation to find out a mutually agreed solution to the issue that has unfortunately reached beyond the crisis proportions. A little flexibility could help out to reach a possible agreement if exercised with sincerity and patience.
It is also incumbent upon the protesting parties to demonstrate flexibility, wisdom and refrain from inciting violence in the name of religion. Islam is a religion, which preaches nothing but peace, tolerance and interfaith harmony. Under no circumstances is violence encouraged or allowed in Islam. Blocking of roads, damaging and vandalizing the state and public properties and causing inconvenience for common masses are the acts of contrition strictly forbidden in Islam.
