Supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are feeling depressed. The goal of Imran Khan’s “Final Call” was to overthrow the present administration and secure Imran Khan’s release from prison. However, the harsh measures, which included mass arrests, “containerization” of roads, suspension of internet and mobile services, and the unsightly scenes of direct violence on the day of the dharna, demonstrated the effectiveness of the state’s counter-insurgency mechanism, a skill that was carried over from colonial times. The much-anticipated dharna petered out without altering the political landscape of the nation due to a combination of official persecution and the PTI’s Punjab leadership’s remarkable failure to mobilize for the events.
However, removing obstacles from protest movements does not mean that they have lost forever. The fact that a sizable crowd turned out, frightening the administration and bringing the nation to a standstill, indicates that the status quo is still plagued by a crisis of legitimacy. However, a neo-colonial regime that has amassed more than two centuries of expertise in stifling opposition cannot be overthrown by popularity alone. How can one remain hopeful in the face of Pakistan’s horrific political impasse? As we plan for the future, perhaps there are some lessons to be learned from the past.
