I'm seeing many folks draw comparisons between the Azadi March in #Pakistan with anti-government movements in Lebanon, Iraq, Chile, and Hong Kong, among other places.
I find that comparison to be wildly off the mark.
We're talking apples and elephants here, in my humble opinion.
I find that comparison to be wildly off the mark.
We're talking apples and elephants here, in my humble opinion.
The Azadi March appears rather opportunistic and short-lived: A political figure's desire to showcase the strength of his constituents and attract some attention before eventually calling it a day. The anti-gov't movements elsewhere appear more genuine, united, and committed.
In Lebanon, Chile, Hong Kong etc., protestors are focusing their ire on leaders who are under much more serious political pressure than is Imran Khan. IK's honeymoon may be long over, but is his grip on power in immediate jeopardy, as w/the leaders elsewhere? It doesn't seem so.
Also, the idea of the JUI-F uniting the political opposition to demand Imran Khan's ouster beggars belief. Fazlur Rehman, with his incendiary talk and unsavory views, isn't exactly a uniter or a natural born leader of a mass movement. PML/PPP support will be tenuous at best.
Finally, a question worth asking is if Pakistan actually has the capacity or desire, in the post-lawyers' movement era, to generate mass movements for change. I've argued that key political and social factors might militate against this possibility. files.ethz.ch/isn/137154/No.… FIN
