Lahore: The Lahore rally of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) held on December 13, 2020 has added more confusion to Pakistan’s politcs. Although PDM managed to pull a sizrable rather an impressive crowed at Minar -e-Pakistan to make its on-going anti – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government campaign ‘Ar ya par’ , but the government simply down played the opposition alliance’s show of power.
The spokespersons of both (The central and Punjab governments) lamblasted PDM for what it claimed ” failed’ show of power at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday.
Soon after the rally , a long queue of Buzdar sarkar spokespersons turned up to TV channels to unleash a full-scale campaign in the media to prove that Sunday’s show of PDM was a big failure.
Right from Prime Minister, Imran Khan, to Buzdar sarkar and Shibli Faraz to Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan everybody in the federal and Punjab government did the best to prove that PDM rally was not enough to take opposition’s alliance ‘Par’.
Prime minister, Imran Khan, too used the similar tactics to show that PDM rally in Lahore has no worry for his rule. To show his least interest in Lahore rally, Imran Khan’s media team released his photo feeding to his dogs at Bani Gala in Islamabad.
Punjab chief minister, Usman Buzdar , also termed the opposition’ s campaign as highly unsuccessful and advised to PDM leadership to turn to parliament rather creating more bad impression of its politics among the masses.
Newly installed Interior minister, Shaikh Rashid, also had the same media talks . Shaikh was also joined by Babar Awan , advisor to Imran Khan, who appreciated Lahories for simply rejecting PDM for its ‘negative’ style of politics.
On the other hand, opposition showed its complete confidence in outcome of Lahore rally.
Maryam Nawaz , who was the host of Lahore rally, gave great patting to Lahories for turning up to Minar-e-Pakistan on her call and the rally a big success.
Maryam Nawaz did hard work and ran effective pre-rally campaign in Lahore by visiting each and every constituency to muster required public support for the rally. She also raised spirit of the workers by delivering as usual a hard-hitting address to the rally. But PPP chairman, Balawal Bhutto Zardari , was perhaps the one who left for better impresion among public by making his the best ever speech to the rally. Many political anaylists also acknowleged his performance that could improve image of his party among the masses in Punjab in coming times.
The government has the right to take any position vis a vis Lahore PDM rally , but its participation was enough for encourging PDM to go for the next phase of its protest to have march on Islamabad in coming months.
By down playing Lahore rally, the government just added more confusion to the national politics. Will it work to benefit IK rule, its time to tell the real story.