Pakistan’s gathering political storm is getting uglier by the day. As if the ongoing three-way confrontation involving the PTI, the PML-N and the establishment was not enough, the assassination attempt against Imran Khan has added more fuel to the fire.

Luckily, Imran Khan narrowly escaped, but the unsavoury incident has pushed political tension in the country to a new pitch, with PTI supporters coming out in drove all across the land showing solidarity with their leader. Matters have not been helped by the refusal by powers that be to register an FIR and hold a probe to identify the hidden hands behind the man who pulled the trigger.

What we are seeing today is a dangerous stand-off and eyeball to eyeball confrontation between the PTI and the Sharif government. Imran Khan has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and a military officer who according to him planned the attack. But the government has not budged an inch to meet the demand. In response Imran Khan has announced that his long march will continue until his demand for fresh polls is accepted.

This demand Imran Khan has been making ever since his ouster from power through a no-confidence motion made successful with the help of turncoats. Imran Khan’s stand is that the regime change was a foreign-sponsored conspiracy hatched with the help of local collaborators. Cut to the quick, he went to the public with the narrative that it was an imported government foisted on the country to serve the interests of internal and external vested interests. His narrative has found favour with the general public as the PDM government has miserably failed to improve the economy and instead burdened the common man with unaffordable price hikes and higher tax levies.

The Sharif government’s lackluster performance and a rapidly deteriorating economy situation has played into the hands of Imran Khan who with his fiery rhetoric has crisscrossed the land drawing large crowds who see him as their deliverer from an oppressive socio-economic system. Imran Khan has also been targeting the establishment which he says is siding with and sustaining the present government.

Some recent incidents have further vitiated the country’s murky political climate. One is the gruesome murder of investigative journalist Arshad Sharif who was a fierce critic of the present government. First he was hounded out of the country and then killed mysteriously in Kenya – a mystery which has not yet been solved. The general public impression is that the government cannot be absolved of its responsibility in the matter. The other incident relates to the arrest of Senator Azam Swati who was allegedly severely tortured in police custody.

These two incidents followed by the assassination attempt on Imran Khan have raised the political temperature to fever pitch. There is a new wave of sympathy for Imran Khan in the country and PTI supporters have taken to the streets shouting slogans against the government and their alleged handlers on a daily basis.

The country was never as polarized as today and there is no end in sight. Where do we go from here? Imran Khan who had earlier announced a temporary halt to his campaign has called on his supporters to continue the long march until elections are announced. On the other hand, Interior Minister Sanaullah Khan says he is all prepared with his anti-riot gear in Islamabad to take on the marchers and teach them a lesson.

It seems things are moving towards a head-on collision unless good sense prevails on both sides to douse the fires of what looks like an all-consuming conflict. God forbid, if there is a bloody clash between the two sides, democracy will be the biggest loser as extra-constitutional forces may have to intervene to restore law and order.

There are extremists on both sides who with their incendiary rhetoric are making matters worse. They must be controlled and sidelined to cool the temperature. At the same time moderate elements from both parties should come forward to start a negotiation process leading to a viable solution acceptable to all.

A feasible solution should not be difficult to find as the positions of the PTI and the PDM on the main issue of elections are not very far apart. While the PTI is calling for early elections, the PDM insists on holding them in August next year as scheduled.

A possible solution is to hold elections in March-April next year with each side required to move only five months from their stated positions. This is a good idea and also a face-saving formula for both. This is a time to show flexibility and statesmanship. Otherwise, the alternative is conflict and clash leading to unforeseen consequences for all involved in this game of thrones.