The word ‘Pindi’ is very popular in Pakistani politics. Basically it is a short name of the city Rawalpindi, but whenever the word ‘Pindi’ is used during special meetings or during any political happening then the word refers to the General Headquarter (GHQ) of Pakistan Army which is situated in Rawalpindi. Currently, Pindi has become center of the interest as the former PM and Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan his going to address a protest rally in this city today. This is the first time that Imran Khan has chosen Rawalpindi for the protest instead of choosing Islamabad.
As the relation between Imran Khan and establishment is not so good for last couple of months. Therefore, the rally of Imran Khan in Rawalpindi is showing that this time the protest of Imran Khan is not against the government, instead it is against the establishment. There is a huge debate in the country since the day Imran Khan gave call for a rally in Rawalpindi. The government has been asking Imran Khan for taking his decision back as there is no need of any such protest. But, Imran Khan is reluctant for holding this rally as he is demanding the early elections from the government.
The government is of the view that there are no chances of early elections in the country. But, Imran Khan wants election so that he may get the chance to come in power again. Government, law enforcement agencies, and sensitive institutions have warned Imran Khan that there are huge security risks for him in today’s Pindi rally. The authorities have warned him that there is huge danger of his execution during this rally. At the same time the government is not cooperating with Imran Khan when it comes to the permission for the landing of his helicopter. On one side the government is of the view that Imran Khan’s life is in danger and not giving the safe passage to Khan on other side. But, Imran Khan is still reluctant to address the rally in Pindi.
Rawalpindi is not having a good history when it comes to political rallies and sessions. Two great leaders of Pakistani history have lost their lives during the political activities in the city. On October 16, 1951, Pakistan’s first prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated in Rawalpindi’s Company Bagh (also known as East India Company Garden) during a public meeting of the Muslim City League.
He was a close aide to the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and it was during his rule that religious parties begin to take foothold in Pakistan. Similarly, Benazir Bhutto was murdered on 27 December 2007 by a 15-year-old suicide bomber called Bilal. She had just finished an election rally in Rawalpindi when he approached her convoy, shot at her and blew himself up. Bilal had been asked to carry out the attack by the Pakistani Taliban.
Rawalpindi has very bad history of killings of political leaders. PTI Chairman Imran Khan has already survived an assassination attempt during his rally in Wazirabad. Now, Imran Khan is scheduled to address a rally in Rawalpindi today. The agencies have warned Imran Khan that there are threats for his life in the city. But, Imran Khan is reluctant for holding political rally. In such circumstance, instead of asking Khan to take his decision back, the government should assure fool proof security for him to avoid any mishap.
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