By Syed Atiq ul Hassan
In a disappointing turn of events, the PTI leadership has capitulated to the military establishment and the current illegitimate government by postponing the much-anticipated protest at D-Chowk, Islamabad, scheduled for today, October 15. This retreat came on the feeble assurance that Imran Khan would be allowed to see team of doctors, though the specifics of who that doctors will be remain unclear. Adding to the absurdity, two of Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khanum and Uzma Khanum, have already been imprisoned on false charges, while a third sister, Noreen Niazi, is being denied meeting with Imran Khan. Shockingly, the PTI leadership appears content to accept that Noreen Khanum, too, will be barred from visiting, except for the doctor’s appointment!
Thousands of PTI workers, fiercely loyal to Imran Khan and willing to lay down their lives for his cause, were prepared to flood D-Chowk and even face jail to protest his unlawful detention. They
viewed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit as the perfect platform to amplify their demands for Khan’s release, using the international stage to expose Pakistan’s political repression. Around the world, activists use such global events to shine a light on human rights violations, but the PTI leadership—once adamant about securing Khan’s freedom even at the cost of life and death—chose instead to strike a feeble deal with the government, merely to arrange a medical visit. Is the current regime and the military establishment behind it truly worthy of this trust?
Key figures in the PTI leadership—Barrister Gohar, Amin Gandapur, Sheikh Akram Waqas, Salman Akram Raja, Umar Ayub Khan, Rauf Hassan, Hamad Azhar, Azam Swati, Shibli Faraz, Ali Muhammad Khan, Shehryar Afridi, Firdous Naqvi, and Dr. Alvi, among others—seem gripped by fear of the ISI and the establishment. Their reluctance to risk imprisonment has exposed their lack of resolve in securing Khan’s release. In contrast, PTI’s grassroots supporters—men, women, and youth alike—remain unwavering in their commitment to Khan, prepared to sacrifice everything, including their freedom.
The military establishment and the bogus government have placed undue importance on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, despite it being a relatively modest platform on the global stage. Led by China and Russia, the SCO includes countries Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan, and Iran. Its primary goal is to create a regional bloc to counterbalance Western alliances, particularly those led by the USA.
However, Pakistan’s presence, especially with India in the mix, holds little strategic value. Instead, this grouping will likely foster closer ties between China and India, further marginalizing Pakistan and pressuring it to align its policies with India’s interests. Additionally, countries like the USA, UK, Germany, France remain opposed to the SCO’s objectives, diminishing its global relevance.
The current Pakistani government seeks to leverage the SCO summit to project international legitimacy, despite its precarious standing. As I argued in my article yesterday, Russia, China, and India are likely to pressure Pakistan at this conference, urging it to cooperate with India, set aside the Kashmir issue, and even consider recognizing Israel.
Meanwhile, a disturbing trend is emerging within the Pakistani media, where unscrupulous journalists are propagating the misleading narrative: “Do you want Imran Khan or Pakistan?” This manipulative tactic mirrors the rhetoric employed by General Zia-ul-Haq to sustain his military regime when he framed the question as, “Do you want an Islamic system in Pakistan. If ‘YES’ the support Zia’s military government?” These generals, it seems, have not evolved beyond such simplistic manipulations in their pursuit of power. (The writer is a Sydney-based journalist a political analyst. His email address is shassan@tribune-intl.com).
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Syed Atiq ul Hassan
Sydney-based journalist, analyst, writer, author and a commentator,
Mob +61 479 143 628
Sydney Australia.
