THE opposition alliance PDM has decided to step up its campaign against the PTI government by announcing a fresh schedule of rallies in major cities this month. The top leadership of the alliance held a virtual meeting on Saturday to discuss all options available to them in view of the unfolding situation highlighted by steep inflation.

Their latest initiative is also fuelled by a perception that the PTI government may be on a weaker footing after the dispute with the military leadership over the appointment of the ISI chief. PPP has also been urging the PML-N to seriously consider the option of an in-house change in Punjab but the latter party remains non-committal.

The opposition has genuine grievances against the government that have propelled it to keep pushing for an early exit of Prime Minister Imran Khan. All governments in the past have pursued an accountability process against its opponents but Mr Khan has made such a policy his foremost priority. It is no secret that NAB has been hounding the opposition leaders from the early days of this government and has done so without even a pretence of being even-handed.

The prime minister has also refused to build a basic working relationship with the opposition in parliament and has adamantly rejected the idea to even sit at the same table with the leader of the opposition, often at the expense of constitutional obligations. Earlier this week, he said in a speech that if he shook hands with the leader of the opposition it would amount to overlooking corruption cases against him. This approach has led to a near breakdown of any relationship between the government and opposition, and there are negligible prospects of this changing anytime soon.

Read: PM explains why he shuns opposition leaders facing graft charges

The opposition now realises that the government is weaker today than at any point in the last three years. It also calculates that the average citizen is being crushed under the burden of inflation and would willingly come out on the streets with the PDM. This is yet to be tested but the renewed push by the PDM, whose internal divisions had so far allowed the government to have the upper hand, may provide the answer.

The opposition, however, would know that whenever governments have fallen in the past, the establishment has had at least some part to play in their downfall. After having fully supported the PTI government for many years, is the establishment ready to lend a hand to the opposition? PDM’s success or failure may depend on this factor.

The government should also realise that when push comes to shove it has few friends backing it because it has alienated most of them. Still, the premature departure of a government weakens democracy and it is hoped that the PDM will keep this in mind as it initiates its latest campaign to oust the PTI government.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2021