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Dr. Jassim Taqui

DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad, March 20,  2022: With the continuation of the grim power struggle in Pakistan, there is a faint light in the tunnel.  The OIC is to be convened on March 28. Hence, there is a possibility that the strongman of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammad bin Salman, popularly known as MBS, would mediate between Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Opposition.

There is a precedence. In the seventies, the combined Opposition also launched a movement against the former Prime Minister ZA Bhutto claiming that he hugely rigged the elections. Bhutto denied the charges and offered the opposition 25 seats which were massively rigged by his ministers.

The former Saudi Ambassador Riyadh El-Khatib did the mediation. The situation improved. Bhutto agreed to re-polling. Suddenly relative normalcy prevailed. However, Gen. Zia ul Haq sabotaged the mission of El-Khatib through the former chief of TI Air Marshal Asghar Khan. The latter wrote a public letter to Gen. Zia asking him to topple the elected government. Gen. Zia did what he wanted. He imposed martial law and subsequently hanged Bhutto on trumpeted allegation of murder.

Presently, the scenario is repeated. Imran Khan is facing a very ominous situation since the establishment won't retreat until its undeclared objective is achieved.