A fierce standoff between law enforcement and the PTI has occurred in Islamabad over the past few days, underscoring the fragile situation of political dissent in the nation. The government’s capacity to manage internal security through civilian law enforcement is further called into doubt by the army’s call-up. As of the publishing of this article, conflicting reports regarding the KP chief minister’s potential imprisonment had raised more questions. While the PTI shouldn’t permit its protests to degenerate into violence and stir up instability, the government must make sure that its activities respect the democratic right to peaceful protest. It is imperative for all parties to acknowledge that individuals bear the brunt of life disruptions resulting from blockades and the potential for violent protests.
