SOME statements by the ruling party leaders hailing the decision to impose a state of emergency and governor’s rule in KP bring to mind the words of a political leader following the military operation in East Pakistan in 1971: “Thank God, Pakistan is saved.”
asserted
Pakistan → rule → God
In fact, that action led to the separation of the eastern wing.
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action → lead → wing
Indeed, comparing the two situations may not be correct.
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comparing → compare → situations
Still, such reckless action against a provincial government that holds a two-thirds majority in the assembly could provoke a combustible environment, further destabilising a country that is facing multiple challenges on both the internal and external fronts.
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that → hold → fronts
For some time, it had been apparent that the hybrid set-up had opted for what is sometimes described as the ‘nuclear option’, as tensions between Islamabad and Peshawar heightened over the PTI’s threat to march on Islamabad.
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tensions → opt → Islamabad
The capital was sealed off with containers, and the highways leading to the city were blocked.
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highways → seal → city
Hopes of ending the stand-off arose earlier this month when the government and the opposition agreed to talk.
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government → end → off
But even a marathon meeting and back-channel contacts failed to break the stalemate.
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meeting → fail → stalemate
Despite the blame game, it was clear the powers that be were not prepared to agree to the PTI’s major demand — a meeting with Imran Khan — or to implement the orders of the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court.
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that → agree → Court
While the differences were purely political, the government maintained that the talks broke down over the PTI provincial government’s refusal to cooperate on counterterrorism operations.
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talks → maintain → operations
Some federal ministers declared the PTI government to be an extension of the TTP.
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government → declare → TTP
The PTI and the provincial government indeed have no clear view regarding the rising cases of terrorism in the province.
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PTI → have → province
Still, the party was willing to cooperate provided it was allowed to give its input in any policy.
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it → cooperate → policy
None of it was beyond resolution once the political issues were settled.
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issues → settle → resolution
According to Maulana Fazlur Rahman, who was asked to mediate at the last moment, the PTI was ready to call off its protest march if the government allowed it a meeting with its detained leader.
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government → accord → leader
But before his shuttle diplomacy could reach any conclusion, the government imposed a state of emergency in KP, shutting the door on any political solution.
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government → reach → solution
The talks seem to have been a mere cover for the crackdown.
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talks → seem → crackdown
The protest march that paralysed the province, along with defiant speeches by a novice chief minister, gave the centre justification for the extreme action it took.
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it → paralyse → action
Without a popular political base, it will not be easy to run a volatile region.
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it → run → region
While the chief minister led the protest march, the chief secretary and police chief took orders from the governor and Islamabad.
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secretary → lead → governor
Some KP cabinet members and legislators were picked up without the provincial government’s permission.
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members → pick → permission
The governor now rules the province, and an indefinite state of emergency has been declared.
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state → rule → emergency
The provincial government is dissolved, and the non-functional chief minister, Sohail Afridi, and some of his cabinet colleagues have been detained.
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minister → dissolve → colleagues
Indications are that Afridi and some other local PTI leaders could be tried for their alleged involvement in the May 9 attacks and disqualified.
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Afridi → try → attacks
Meanwhile, an 11-member advisory council, comprising mostly technocrats, has been installed to run the administration, overseen by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
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council → comprise → Dar
But the real power, though, lies with the establishment.
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power → lie → establishment
This isn’t the first time an elected provincial government has been sent packing.
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government → elect → ?
Still, such sweeping action against a government that enjoyed a two-thirds majority in the assembly has not been seen in recent history.
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that → enjoy → history
Without a popular political base, it will not be easy to run the administration of a highly volatile region in the midst of resurgent terrorism and a hostile border.
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it → run → terrorism
The containers may have been removed in Islamabad, but Peshawar is now barricaded to protect government offices and installations.
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Peshawar → remove → offices
Educational institutions are closed, and internet services have yet to be restored in many places.
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services → close → places
The eerie lull speaks of a gathering storm.
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lull → speak → storm
Governing a highly politicised region from Islamabad or Rawalpindi cannot deliver the desired result, and using force could fuel anger.
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using → govern → anger
Most concerning is that it could lead to an unholy alliance between alienated PTI workers and the TTP in troubled districts, compounding the country’s internal security challenges.
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lead → lead → challenges
A fragmented political party can pose a greater threat to internal security.
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party → pose → security
It is a ticking time bomb.
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It → tick → ?
What happened in KP is an extension of the authoritarianism trend in the country.
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happened → happen → country
The removal of an elected government headed by a party that still enjoys massive popular support, not only in the province but across the country, despite continuing state persecution, will further destabilise the situation.
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that → elect → situation
Some federal ministers’ claims that emergency rule has saved KP, as well as Pakistan, are misplaced.
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rule → save → KP
The reckless action has further weakened a federal government of questionable legitimacy.
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action → weaken → legitimacy
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
