The call for countrywide agitation and shutdown today is in remembrance of an election verdict that was not honoured. The February 8, 2024 vote had surprisingly returned PTI-backed Independent candidates in a majority, despite the fact that they contested under extremely hostile circumstances. The subsequent Form 45 vs 47 maneuvering, nonetheless, led the PMLN-PPP combine into power, and since then political instability has been the order of the day.

The six-party opposition alliance, TTAP, has called for a standstill today, and has been backed by traders, transporters, lawyers and a wide range of political parties. That a divisive PTI has been able to muster street movement, after a lackluster role in the parliament and outside for long, could squarely be attributed to the K-P Chief Minister leading from the front.

The continued incarceration, however, of hundreds of PTI workers and leaders and denial of justice as per law will keep the momentum on its toes. It will further push the country into the abyss of instability and socio-economic uncertainty. The concerns on the health of the PTI founder, coupled with the defiance on the part of the government in denying a court-ordained audience to his family and lawyers, has crippled the equation of trust in government, and the state edifice.

The question is, what's next? Post-February 8 dynamics are likely to be more worrisome. Pakistan's representative mosaic and functioning of the organs of the state warrant a genuine political solution. The PTI has been pushed to the wall under the guise of controversial legal dictums, and many of its lawful appeals are still pending a hearing, including relief to convicted prisoners. And that makes the equation horrendous, and quite unpredictable.

The way forward for the coalition government is to engage the opposition in an unconditional dialogue, and bring down the soaring mercury. That is a must taking into account the deteriorating law and order situation and the plummeting economy. Release of political prisoners, including Imran Khan, and a grand huddle to write a new charter of civil governance are indispensable steps, on way to seeking a new dawn of stability.