TLP – An Asset Created, and then thrown away

TLP – An Asset Created, and then thrown away

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TLP leader Afzal Qadri’s recent meek surrender and resignation from the fear of the powerful security apparatus is a perfect case of an “asset created, used when needed, and then thrown away when not required anymore”.

During the 2018 sit-in, Qadri incited a mutiny against his own country’s armed forces. He said: “ The Muslim officers of Pakistan Army should take responsibility to rebel against COAS Bajwa and all other Qadiani Generals”. Moreover, he called Prime Minister Imran Khan ‘ Yahoodi Bacha’ and called for action against the judges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2-hFO7SsGM

Little did he know that his career as a religious bigot will be over the moment he turns against his bosses.

Meanwhile, the leader of the TLP Khadim Hussain Rizvi has also been silenced by the long arm of the establishment for quite a while now.

Just today, Khadim Rizvi has been released on bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Read more: Big Danda given to TLP workers – not a single protester in sight

Before, the same TLP was created and supported with the blessings of the military to take part in the 2018 elections. The objective was simple: To cause a dent in the popularity of the incumbent government which at the time was on a collision course with the establishment.

TLP gained an astonishing 2.2 million votes countrywide – the voters that had cast their vote in favor of PML- N in the previous election voted for TLP. Hence, turning the religious vote away from PML-N. The mission proved to be a success.

But before the elections, their ‘taking off moment’ came when they staged their first sit-in. The PML-N government after weeks of inaction, decided to go for an operation against the extremists challenging the writ of the state.

The operation was a failure; the police and security personnel were unable to get hold of the situation. The main objective of the operation was to arrest the main culprits or the leadership of TLP. Amidst the chaos, the military came into action on the request of the present government. However, instead of helping the weak government to put an end to the misery of the people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, an agreement was signed and envelopes containing Rs.1000 notes distributed to the self-proclaimed saviors of Islam.

Below is the clip.

Ergo, the lesson learned: Be wary of becoming an asset of the military because you never know when you will be left alone or dealt with strongly once you challenge them.

Imran Khan, the elected Prime Minister in an old clip claimed that whenever his party comes in power, he will do an audit of the army’s budget to decrease expenditures and increase the revenue of the country.

Here is the clip.

But since coming into power, he has largely acted as a spineless leader; most political commentators and journalists perceive Imran Khan to be a ‘puppet’ of the army. There is no doubt that it was the khakis who brought him into power so as to assert control by bringing in a weak government.

And the day Khan tries to be his own man and challenges the establishment, he will be shown the door as well.

That’s how the army wrests control over the country.