Showdown deepening crisis.

ISLAMABAD -- The two-day long showAdown between the law enforcAers and the PaAkistan TehAreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers at Lahore's Zaman Park has furAther deepened the ongoing poAlitical and economic crisis of the country. Clashes broke out on Tuesday between the supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan and the law enforcAers after the police stormed his residence to arrest him to execute a non-bailable arrest warrant issued by a local court of Islamabad in the Toshakhana case.

Some better sense prevailed after the police and Rangers, a paramilitary force, stopped the operation till today on the diArection of Lahore High Court (LHC).

The high drama that continued for hours has only added more confusion and uncerAtainty about the present set-up and the fate of the general elections in the two provinAcial assemblies. In the midst of a crippling economic crisis, the political polarization in the country has reached its new heights. The policy confrontation between Imran Khan and the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement, a coalition of ruling parties, has now taken the shape of a vendetta.

The legal fraternity has also protested in Lahore against the way adopted by police to execute the arrest warrants.

The reports coming from Washington are worrying as these say that the political sitAuation in Pakistan was causing a delay in fiAnalization of the government's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get $1.1 billion funds to ward off further ecoAnomic meltdown.

The government could have avoided diArect confrontation with the...