Escalation thwarted, calm restored |
THE immediate threat of confrontation seems to have been successfully averted.
The main concern had been that following the DG ISPR’s press briefing, PTI might erupt, potentially making a misstep even graver than the events of May 9. Fortunately, that did not materialize. It is true that during the Peshawar rally, some participants talked about marching toward D-Chowk and Chief Minister Suhail Afridi himself suggested that such a scenario was possible. A few placards displaying the party’s customary indecorous language were also visible. Yet, despite these provocations, the overall message of the gathering remained largely positive. Suhail Afridi, mindful of the audience’s temperament, refrained from making any incendiary statements. His tone was generally apologetic. The rally’s overarching message was clear: PTI and its leadership remain loyal not only to Pakistan but also to the defence forces.
This message was reinforced in the press conference held by PTI’s leadership in response to the DG ISPR’s briefing. One striking element of that press conference was a comment by Barrister Gohar. He stated, “We set out to secure Imran Khan’s release, but we now........