One fails to understand as what the PTI chief Imran Khan is up to? He is hell bent to create law and order situation by going ahead with his so-called Long March, which will take toll on the overall security and economic situation as well.

On the other hand, the sports activities are also going to hamper and most importantly it coincides with the England cricket team tour of Pakistan. Though the PTI Chief Imran Khan has given assurances to  the PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja, and the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner that the forthcoming long march would not hamper the Pak-England Test series scheduled to commence in Rawalpindi on Dec 1, but the fact is that the Long March is going to cause difficulties for masses and hence  the Ex PM should do away with the idea of his Long March. It may be mentioned here that sports have suffered a lot in our country during the last decades and instead of creating a sense of fear among visiting teams players, we should provide them a free of fear environment. Just imagine, the English team recently visited Pakistan after a long gap of 17 years prior before the recently-concluded T20 World Cup and featured in seven-match T20 series against the home team and they also won this series 4-3 providing the home crowd with competitive encounters. 

Now all eyes are set on the second leg of the English team, which is scheduled to be in Pakistan for a Test series consisting of three Tests with first test scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi, (Dec 1-5),followed by Multan (Dec 9-13) and then Karachi (Dec 17-21). It may be recalled here that English team has expressed its serious concerns over the security risks for the tourists due to the Long March coinciding with the English team tour and the team captain has requested the ex PM to not to go with this the Long March plan  which can create a law and order situation in case of political unrest due to Long March. As a matter of fact, the series is crucial for the most popular sport cricket in Pakistan and hence  it needed to be played in a free of fear environment without any security-related issue. The irony is that the PTI chief and its main leadership have always been inclined to negative tactics. One wonders as to what the PTI leaders are up to?. The nation is passing through critical juncture of period. On the one hand, our economy is going nose-dive while on the other the flood catastrophe has wreaked havoc with the infrastructure with millions still living under the open sky with no shelter and very little food. The cold weather is upon us and instead of providing shelter and food to these flood affected masses, he out to make arrangements for his March participants in cold weather with boarding and lodging facilities and lavish foods. The question is from where does he get such funds to be so lavishly spending on the Marchers next month when the weather will become cold and it will need a lot of funds and finance to afford the expenses of such an extremely expensive March. Question arises into mind as to why not spend those funds on the relief activities for the flood victims who are running from pillar to post to make both ends meet.

As a matter of fact, the weather is turning cold in the country with each passing day and the flood affected people are in a fix for shelters. In such testing time, one would advise the IK to focus on relief activities instead of spending lavishly on Long March. As a matter of fact, the IK should mobilise his workers and supporters to help the flood affected people before the advent of the cold weather because the extreme weather conditions will multiply the woes of these affected persons. It is very unfortunate that the masses are reeling in real pain and agony but the PTI leaders are more concerned about his Long March. Right now, all the parties and political leaders need to work together to minimize the sufferings of the flood-affected people, who are living under open sky with little to no food available. The pictures of improvised tents in flood-affected districts across the country are doing rounds on the social media, with the affected people making hectic appeals for food and shelter and other needs of life, but IK seems to be more interested in political activities than coming to the rescue of the masses. The cold weather is upon us and the government and every political party and leader have the responsibility to collectively help the flood affected people, who are dependent on food, water and other essentials provided by Govt,  philanthropists or non-government organisations. Social media is abuzz with picture of flood affected people chasing trucks distributing food among the victims. It is ironic that in such a situation the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is focused on Long March. He should spend the amount allocated for the Long March on the flood victims to set a good precedent. Right now the entire world is concerned about Pakistan's floods and is contributing their bits for the flood victims but the IK is more concerned about grabbing power by hook or by crook.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 25 2022

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