PTI Islamabad Rally Postponed Amid Political Protests

PTI postpones Islamabad rally as Jamaat-e-Islami suspends petroleum levy protest, giving the Shehbaz Sharif government temporary political relief. After the Jamat Islami march postponed, PTI calls off its rally The Pakistan Tehrik Insaf's decision to postpone Sunday's rally in Islamabad to next Sunday has provided the Shehbaz Sharif government the completion of the relief that started when the Jamaat Islami suspended its train march on Monday, a day after its had started from Karachi. The Jamaat was protesting the petroleum levy, and the march is only suspended, as Jamaat leaders hold talks with Mr Sharif. So far, the Jamaat leadership has only held talks with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The PTI decision, made by its political committee, was not because of any desire to accommodate a government with whom talks were going well. As a matter of fact, there were no talks at all. Whereas the Jamaat engagement had led to some examination of what removing the levy would entail, there was no sign that the PTI had put any demands to the government for the postponement. PTI leader Naeem Haider Panjutha had said that the release of party founder Imran Khan and other political prisoners, the holding of elections in six to eight months and investigations into the May 9 and October 36 incidents, could lead to a postponement. Central Information Secretary Waqas Akram said this not the case, and only Mr Khan could postpone the rally, In the event, it was the political committee which decided. An inside account reveals that the committee felt there was a lack of preparedness, there was lack of transport and of machinery to remove blockades. It has not been disclosed how a week is supposed to bring about any change in this. Part of the reason is the tussle about the use of the KP Police. The Supreme Court has ordered that it not be used in the march. This was followed by an ordinance to amend the KP Police Act, and as disclosed by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, discussions about imposing Governor's Rule. The terrorist activities in the province, the recent blast in Kohat being one example, provide the federal government a reason to impose Governor's Rule, and the PTI would probably want to avoid that. However, the ability of the PTI to mount a successful show will determine whether it can claw its way back to power in Punjab and the Centre. It is now perhaps stuck, because until Mr Khan is back in circulation, the party will not be able to do all that much.