It’s a new, surreal chapter in Pakistan’s turbulent politics. Imran Khan, who didn’t manage to translate promise into votes in the elections last year that swept Nawaz Sharif to power, now demands the latter’s resignation based on the charge of rigging. Along comes a cleric from somewhere in Canada and behaves as if he’s the new messiah; and both band together.

Their demands, as they encamp with thousands of followers in Islamabad, are unrealistic, tantamount to losing parties refusing to accept a verdict and calling for the ouster of the elected government, amidst other demands like the resignation of the Punjab CM (the PM’s brother), and dissolution of the assembly. And, in this instability has been created space for the army to step in.

It’s tough to imagine what can happen next. Imran and Tahirul Qadri — the cleric whose USP is an ostensible stand against extremism — refuse to back down. The Supreme Court has issued notices to them for obstructing life in the capital.

And Sharif, rightly, refuses to resign, even as he tried to make conciliatory gestures. But talks have now been called off even as the army asks for restraint, sagacity et al, playing the role of an arbiter.

As always, it is Pakistan’s bickering political class that has allowed the army to step in. Sure, most parties have stayed away from Imran’s demands, and the national assembly has passed a resolution rejecting Imran and Qadri’s unconstitutional demands.

But, in the land of conspiracy theories, it is said that Imran’s disproportionate sense of entitlement stems from the military’s backing, as the army is unhappy about the political class’ performance, and wants to retain all say on key issues like Afghanistan and India. The generals might want a share of power now, but maybe that’ll only whet their appetite.

This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Economic Times.

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Courtesy: Economic Times: 22nd Aug, 2014