Political Instability in Lahore

Lahore, Pakistan – As June 17th drew to a close and protests throughout the city at police action in Model Town, Lahore dispersed, thirteen people, including women and children, lay dead. Yet Pakistanis and foreign observers could not claim to be surprised at the bloodshed, which has been an ever present situation in this sectarian country as of late. The police action was targeted at one of the three major opposition parties, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), whose leader was ensconced within Model Town --  surrounded by barricades manned by party loyalists. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the leader of the PAT, had earlier warned the governing party to not impede his return to the country.

Nevertheless, police forces moved to tear down barricades that they claimed were illegally erected, though PAT supporters responded that these very same barricades were raised years before to protect ul-Qadri against the Taliban, whom he had spoken out against.

A large street riot between police, armed with tear gas and batons, and PAT protesters ensued. Police would later claim that those guarding the barricades were in fact private militia, and that they had recovered assorted arms including Kalashnikov rifles from the PAT protesters. PAT officials, in turn, countered that these “militia” were merely spirited supporters who were guarding against what they saw as an unjustified violent incursion.

Notwithstanding, both the government and opposition decried the overly savage actions of the Lahore police.  While the opposition claimed that the government had secretly called for strikes against the PAT barricades, the government blamed an over zealous police force.

For a nation that has been continually striving toward greater cohesion in the last few decades, this incident is yet another indicator that Pakistan has not conquered its ills. Indeed, one must wonder what the future holds for Pakistan -- as sectarian violence tears the north and west apart.