Imran Khan’s ‘final call’ peters out as Shehbaz, Munir join hands
FirstpostShehbaz Sharif and Gen Asim Munir handled Imran Khan’s challenge with skill and flexibility. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf supremo Imran Khan from his jail cell, where he has remained since August last year, gave a ‘final call’ around two weeks ago to his supporters to march to Islamabad, occupy its famous D-Chowk and sit in dharna, till his party’s demands were met by the government. That tsunami would cause the Pakistan Muslim League -led coalition government of Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir who really controls the Pakistani political process to panic and give in to Khan’s demands. On its part, the Shehbaz Sharif government repeatedly claimed on November 25 and more so on November 26 that it was acting patiently because it did not want to fall into Khan’s trap. Two last points: One, while some of Khan’s supporters reached Islamabad from Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, the government’s there, doubtless aided by the army, did not allow the movement of any convoys from these provinces.