Global Watch | PTI's Long March, Civil-Military Imbalance And Pakistan's Protest Culture

A segment of society has resisted the military's political interference and its protégés from the very beginning, which explains why protests have become emblematic of Pakistan.

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The ongoing political crisis and confrontation between the federal government and the opposition, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), don’t seem to be ending soon.

After postponing its long march to Islamabad on the eve of 27 September, the PTI finally set out on the march on 4 October after intense sessions of talks failed to reach a positive result.

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Addressing the protesters at Karak, the Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) — the only province that has a PTI government — Sohail Afridi presented a strong image of the party chairman Imran Khan, claiming that the latter was not breaking down despite being punished along with his family.

Targeting the government/military establishment, Afridi said that “decision-makers in closed rooms have always sold our blood, but now decisions will be made in the fields in line with the people’s aspirations."

The line taken by Afridi is the same that was adopted by the PTI while announcing the march. The party had stated: “Imran Khan’s constitutional and legal rights have been usurped; we have no path left except the long march." The statement emphasised that it was the moment to restore the constitutional rights of the people.

Although both sides, the federal government and the PTI, have consistently insisted on talks to iron out differences and reach a mutually acceptable solution to the contested issues, they blame each other for the failure of earlier talks.

Amid fresh proposals for talks, both sides have hardened their stances. Afridi declared the........

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