ISLAMABAD: The ante has been upped in the standoff between the ruling PML-N and anti-government protesters, who, having brea­ched the red zone, have marched on to parliament to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

This, combined with a mysterious ISPR statement issued after midnight that called on all stakeholders to exercise “patience, wisdom and sagacity in the larger national interest”, seems to have put the prime minister in a tough spot.

Tuesday was a tense day in the capital as both the government and the demonstrators of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek looked all set for a showdown. Indeed, all the posturing and media coverage ahead of the promised surge towards the red zone indicated there would be blood.

Earlier in the day, the interior minister issued an ominous warning to both parties’ leaders, saying that the government would stop at nothing to protect institutions of the state and the international community holed up in the diplomatic enclave.

On the other side, both Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri promised their supporters that victory was at hand. Mr Khan announced that demonstrators would sit-in outside parliament until the prime minister resigned. Dr Qadri, who held a ‘people’s parliament’ at Aabpara roundabout earlier in the day, promised his followers that accountability would be ensured for the “corrupt” rulers.

•Army intervenes with call for dialogue •Govt posturing breaks down as Imran, Qadri lead

marchers forward •Security personnel told to stand down, not to engage protesters •Marchers use cranes to clear containers, roadblocks near Nadra HQ

But as evening fell and both leaders urged their supporters onwards into the high-security zone, it seemed that an understanding had been reached between the protesting parties and the government. Security personnel — including contingents from the police, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary and the military — looked on as large cranes moved the containers holding the marchers back.

At the command of their leaders, both marches set off just after 8pm, slowly but surely advancing on the red zone. PAT supporters led the charge, marching down Khayaban-i-Suharwardy and congregating at the G-5 entrance to Constitution Avenue, near Nadra headquarters. PTI workers took the same route too; walking back down Kashmir Highway to Aabpara roundabout and then onwards down Khayaban-i-Suharwardy.

Both marches soon merged and became indistinguishable. All the while, policemen stayed disengaged and did not attempt to restrain the protesters. Although a few isolated incidents of violence were reported, the march was largely peaceful as law enforcers were ordered to stand down and avoid a confrontation at all cost by the powers-that-be.

The entrance to Constitution Avenue at Nadra headquarters, which was blocked by several containers the whole day, was cleared in minutes by PTI and PAT supporters by using cranes they had brought along for the purpose. These cranes, which had accompanied both parties’ demonstrators since they arrived in the capital on Aug 16, played an integral role in clearing a path towards the avenue of power.

Both marches made their way onto Constitution Avenue and by midnight, a sizeable contingent had arrived outside the gates of parliament.

Security personnel stood by as the protesters marched on their target, but none intervened.

Even as army units stood at ready at sensitive buildings such the PM House, the ISPR spokesperson Maj Gen Asim Bajwa issued a statement, calling on the demonstrators to respect the sanctity of buildings in the red zone as they were “symbols of the state and being protected by the army”.

PTI’s advance

Before he initiated the countdown for the march on the red zone, the PTI chief instructed his supporters to remain peaceful and warned law enforcement personnel not to engage with the marchers.

“We will turn the lawns of parliament into Tahrir Square,” he bellowed from atop the mobile PTI stage, which began its slow crawl towards Constitution Avenue.

“I will lead the march and you must follow me without hesitation. We will turn the red zone into a green zone,” he told charged demonstrators.

“Remember, we will change the red zone into the green zone,” he added.

Mr Khan was also unequivocal on who should be held responsible if anything unfortunate were to befall him or his workers. “Nawaz Sharif, if anything happens to my people, I won’t spare you,” he said, adding, “If anything were to happen to me, promise me you will hold Nawaz Sharif responsible and avenge me”.

Later, the PTI chief also said that the protesters would not try to occupy any government building while he also told the participants that they should be ready to take revenge if their leader Imran Khan lost his life during the peaceful protest.

During his session of the ‘people’s parliament’, Dr Qadri set the stage for the march by asking the crowd a set of rhetorical yes/no questions, including whether they would like to go home or not; whether they would prefer to protest in front of parliament and whether the government should stay or go.

His supporters chanted their answers in chorus, as if on cue, setting the stage for the march to follow.

With reporting by Jamal Shahid, Syed Irfan Raza, Irfan Haider, Kalbe Ali and Malik Asad

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2014