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A storm is coming


After a long hiatus from decades of professional journalism, at the moment, it was considered to step into the field of politics after saying goodbye, that politics has again entered such a terrible phase of an insoluble crisis with serious consequences. Even the angels don't know about it and the parrots sitting on television talk shows don't at all.


How will the sky change color in the morning and evening? On Friday, a distinguished three-member bench of the Supreme Court threw out the papers of the most ridiculous so-called cipher case of the third decade of the 20th century. The news of Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi's bail in the cipher case spread like wildfire. Millions of followers of Khan Sahib thought that only Khan would be released from jail and go on a whirlwind election campaign.


But where were those who came out of the still-unseen whirlpool destined for the political fate of Tehreek-e-Insaaf? However, the honorable judges of the Supreme Court bench (who are now worried about their moral and political reputation) felt on the complaint of Tehreek-e-Insaf that Tehreek-e-Insaf could not have a smooth political field, so the Election Commission was instructed to He should redress the grievances of Tehreek-e-Insaf. And even if it was resolved, on the same evening, the Election Commission declared the party elections of Tehreek-e-Insaaf null and void and deprived the party of its long-standing election symbol, the bat.


With the stroke of a pen, Tehreek-e-Insaf not only lost the mark of the bat, but now it has lost 10 reserved seats for minorities and 60 reserved seats for women, which are determined by the proportion of votes any party gets. Now, 70 members out of the majority of 171 have been removed, or even if Tehreek-e-Insaaf remains for the National Assembly out of the total 342 seats, 272 seats or 20 percent of the total seats have gone out of its electoral account before the holding of the elections.


Today (Saturday) is the last day for nomination papers and allotment of party symbols to the candidates is on January 13. As if Tehreek-e-Insaf has only 17 days left to challenge the Election Commission's decision and the High Court's decisions on it. If the Supreme Court does not decide on this within ten days next week, then PTI will enter the arena without a bat.


Angels have already made their preferred pitches in the transparent electoral field and they are being changed day by day as per the requirements of the hybrid electoral system. In such a situation, even though the date of February 8 is set in stone, fundamental questions have been raised about the election process itself. The reminder of the election tragedies of 1970 and 1977 by Justice Athar Minullah has not reached anyone's ears. What should Tehreek-e-Insaf do now? Call may not be found, alternative can be found. Like "Awam Dost" there can be "Insaf Dost" and instead of a bat, there can be a hammer and a sickle somewhere.


In the age of social media, it is not difficult to spread like wildfire a separate election symbol for each constituency. Tehreek-e-Insaf has now got such an ease which no other party has. Dozens of candidates have stood up from each constituency and she can choose any one of them, the eagles of the new generation can flaunt these signs overnight. Even if there is no landslide, even if the competition is not bloodthirsty, there may be a strong connection in some places.


At a time when the PML-N in Punjab, despite its extensive local electoral network, stands at its lowest ever level of popular support, electoral victory despite pampering and state patronage is becoming increasingly difficult. Bahawalnagar district, where I myself am a candidate from Constituency 161 of the National Assembly, the atmosphere against its long-standing candidates seems to be getting very dark.


There is no good situation for the people of PPP. If any party has atmosphere, it is Tehreek-e-Insaf. What options and plan B and C do Tehreek-e-Insaf have now? No news! The idea that Tehreek-e-Insaf is limited only to cities is completely opposite to reality. The rural patriarchal communities have broken up and the working people are fed up with inflation and unemployment and there is no line of light for them.


Middle class people are very bitter. While, surprisingly, most of the burden of public disgust has fallen on the head of the Shahbaz government. And what are the factors that are increasing Imran Khan's charismatic appeal? He is now a living martyr. So far, the election campaign is limited to the race for party tickets only. Most of them are towards PML-N and its candidates are facing public disgust. As such, I have embarked on the adventure of entering the field with a separate public democratic agenda.


The old work is becoming very useful among the workers and people are coming from where to find courage. I am probably the only candidate at the moment who has issued a detailed charter on political, economic and security issues, which has been well received by the educated people and has given some hope to the workers, especially the farmers. But now let's see how the camel crouches.


The purpose of participating in the elections is not only for the seat of the assembly, but it is more important to fight for the democratic transformation of the country, prosperous future and the welfare of the working people and freedom from exploitation. Bahawalnagar is my native district from where my brother Mumtaz Alam Geelani was elected MNA twice and I am also getting the fruits of his honest public politics.


But why do people expect so much from me? They may be under the impression that they have to show their charisma in leaving. But Chana alone can not break! The struggle for public salvation, democratic stability and revolutionary transformation is long. One more try.