ast week, the always-on political bickering was overshadowed by the country-wide celebration of Arshad Nadeem’s Olympics gold medal. Another significant was the arrest of Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (retired).

Gen Hameed was taken into custody in the TOP City case. According to Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, Hameed was involved in political activities after his retirement in November 2022. In a television interview, he said: “He orchestrated the May 9 incidents. He was not alone.” According to various reports, the army has taken several other people in custody. They are believed to have worked for him and followed his instructions even after his retirement.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been using various strategies to appease the establishment angered over the May 9 riots. The incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan has used his tweets and articles carried by some foreign publications to mobilise opinion in his favour. At the same time, he has been trying to persuade the military leaders to agree to a truce. Talking to some media persons in Adiala Jail, he said: “I am ready to hold talks with the army.” He urged the military leaders to appoint a representative to talk with him. However, his offer went unheeded.

Then, Khan tried another tactic. He said: “I will apologise for the May 9 incidents provided the state can show me that PTI people carried out the attacks on military installations.” His statement drew media’s attention but the military leadership did not respond to his offer.

Having sensed that the military leaders had ignored the offer, some PTI leaders tried to come up with another narrative. Their social media influencers urged the state to hand down lenient sentences to the PTI leaders in May 9 cases and exempt Khan.

Seeking anonymity, a PTI leader said: “A truce between the establishment and the PTI is the only way forward. For that, both sides will have to budge from their present positions. Yes, we want the state to end the crackdown against the PTI and resolve the matter amicably.”

A counter-argument against the proposal is: if those guilty of crimes against the state are forgiven under political influence, this could set a bad precedent. It could embolden other groups to do the same in the future. Ideally, if there is solid evidence against some PTI leaders, they should be convicted; if not, they must be acquitted. The law should take its course.

Then Khan tried another tactic. He said: “I will apologise for the May 9 incidents provided the state can show that the PTI people carried out the attacks on military installations.” This statement drew the media’s attention but the military leadership did not respond to the offer. 

After the Supreme Court ruled on the reserved seats, the PTI started saying that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had only a thin majority.

Simultaneously, a rumor started circulating in Sindh and the traditional and social media started discussing the ‘imminent’ change of the Sindh governor. It was said that the PML-N had decided to replace Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Kamran Tessori. This was meant to highlight differences within the ruling coalition. The MQM did not want its governor to go. The Pakistan Peoples Party did not like his likely replacement, Bashir Memon.

As director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, Memon had supervised several investigations against top PPP leaders including President Asif Zardari. After retirement from the FIA, Memon had joined the PML-N. He has since been appointed the PML-N’s Sindh chapter president. PML-N leaders reacted promptly, saying and there was no proposal to change the Sindh governor.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has recently criticised the judiciary and blamed it for the political and constitutional crisis in Pakistan. Speaking in the National Assembly on August 10, he accused the judiciary of transforming a minor issue into a full-blown constitutional crisis. He said that the last-minute move by the judiciary had provided a lifeline to the PTI which was politically dead. Denying it the election symbol, he said, was what revived the party. He also criticised the superior judiciary’s rulings about the allocation of reserved seats.

“Currently, a storm in a teacup is being transformed into a full-blown constitutional crisis. Not me, not the speaker, not the members, the PM or the Parliament but the judiciary itself is responsible for this crisis.”

The writer is a senior journalist, teacher of journalism, writer and analyst. He tweets at @BukhariMubasher