Faisal Ahmad<\/p>\n
\u201cThe engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest.\u201d
\nThe recent political unrest in Pakistan triggered by protests led by the PTI has unveiled a disturbing trend of propaganda, misleading claims, and internal disarray within the party. These protests raised serious concerns about the nature of political demonstrations in the country and the role of political leadership in fueling such unrest.
\nThe protest led by Chief Minister KP, began with inflammatory rhetoric, including incitements to violence. The CM reportedly encouraged party workers to prepare for a perilous do-or-die situation, claiming that protesters have tied up the shroud and will not return alive. CM KP\u2019s rhetoric turned the demonstration into an act of defiance rather than a peaceful political protest. Such calls for extreme measures starkly contrast with the ideal of peaceful demonstrations and sparked further controversy, especially given the absence of any significant political resolution or legitimate grievance to justify the unrest.
\nThe narrative around the protest quickly spiralled into a web of fabricated stories designed to stir public emotions. PTI\u2019s social media propagandists disseminated several unverified and sensational claims such as the alleged abduction of former First Lady Bushra Bibi, an assassination attempt on the CM KP and the mysterious relocation of former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adyala jail to an undisclosed location. These claims, though quickly debunked, were strategically used to stir hatred against the state apparatus and amplify anti-government sentiments. Additionally, news of party workers being killed in clashes with LEAs circulated widely with claims ranging from dozens to hundreds of deaths, though no credible sources could corroborate these numbers.
\nDespite PTI\u2019s narrative of victimhood, the protests in Islamabad were dispersed swiftly by LEAs. The city was brought to a standstill for several days with businesses, educational institutions, and public life disrupted. The protests not only violated the Islamabad High Court\u2019s orders which had explicitly prohibited such gatherings but also caused significant damage to the functioning of the federal capital amidst the visit of a Belarusian delegation. Reports indicated that approximately 450 protesters were arrested during the protests and the situation quickly de-escalated after just a few hours. The protest\u2019s quick failure coupled with the retreat of key PTI leaders raised further questions about the sincerity and planning behind the entire protest.
\nThe federal government\u2019s handling of the protests also drew sharp criticism. While the government did manage to control the situation in Islamabad, the broader issue of nationwide disruption remained unresolved. The closure of roads, educational institutes, health facilities and businesses across Pakistan as a result of PTI\u2019s actions created unnecessary hardships for ordinary citizens. The government\u2019s overreaction to the protests tends to be played into the hands of the opposition, further inflaming the political climate.
\nCompounding the chaos was the distress within PTI itself. The absence of strong leadership following the arrest of the former Prime Minister created a leadership vacuum. The situation was further exacerbated by the increased involvement of Khan\u2019s family members in party politics which generated internal discontent. His wife, Bushra Bibi, and other relatives were reportedly involved in directing protestors. Such moves have raised eyebrows among party loyalists. PTI\u2019s veterans have voiced their dissatisfaction with the growing role of the former leader\u2019s family which signals deepening rifts within the party.
\nAdditionally, the rhetoric surrounding PTI\u2019s protests lacked coherence and consistency. Claims of mass casualties were contradicted by official reports and allegations of state-sanctioned violence failed to hold up under scrutiny. Despite the strong rhetoric, PTI\u2019s leadership showed an unwillingness to endure the hardships of the protests, fleeing from the scene as soon as the protests lost momentum. This lack of commitment raised further doubts about the motivations behind the protests and the sincerity of their cause. In the light of recent PTI-led protests, the social media propagandists have galvanized support for the party by strategically crafting and repeating misleading narratives. Despite the lack of factual backing for many of the claims made, the \u2018engineering of consent\u2019 through these media tactics contributed to shaping public sentiment and opinion thus creating a perception of injustice or victimhood.<\/p>\n
The writer is a graduate of QAU, PhD scholar and a freelance writer and can be reached at fa7263125@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Faisal Ahmad \u201cThe engineering of consent is the very essence of the democratic process, the freedom to persuade and suggest.\u201d The recent political unrest in Pakistan triggered by protests led by the PTI has unveiled a disturbing trend of propaganda, misleading claims, and internal disarray within the party. These protests raised serious concerns about the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[13178],"class_list":{"0":"post-448054","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-faisal-ahmad"},"yoast_head":"\n