BACK in 2013, when a Chinese dignitary was scheduled to visit Pakistan, the political party that is creating chaos on roads these days, had announced a rally that, as alleged by many, was an effort to sabotage Pakistan-China relations. This was seen as a tactic to put the gover-nment under pressure at the cost of Pakistan.

The same party called for a protest when the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit was set to begin in Islamabad earlier this year. The recent ‘final call’ was announced by the incar-

cerated leader of the opposition party which coincided with the arrival of yet another foreign dignitary; Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Is it a mere coincidence that all these ‘protests’ by the party in question were planned and organised when a leader of a foreign country was visiting Pakistan?

Protest is indeed a fundamental right given to the people by the Constitution, and this right must be respected by the government. However, planning protests with malafide intentions is definitely against the national interest.

Pakistan is already struggling owing to numerous crises, and these protests are only exacerbating the situation.

Abdul Rehman Bhutto
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2024