LAHORE: The government is making an effort to resolve differences with Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan, Railways Minister Saad Rafique told the media in Lahore on Friday.
Undeterred by the heavy rain, Rafique started off the government's 30-day plan to celebrate Independence Day outside Badshahi Mosque with hundreds of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters by his side.
Express News screengrab of PML-N supporters outside Badshahi Mosque.
Standing outside the mosque with a Pakistani flag in his hand, Rafique told media that he was requesting political workers not to make Independence Day about violence, bitterness and disagreement.
Admitting that the government does have some differences with Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, Rafique said that a "chowk" is not the place to resolve these issues and they should sit at a table and discuss them.
"Khan is willing to talk to the Taliban, even today, so why is he not willing to talk to the government?" said Rafique.
"Is the government even worse than the Taliban," he went on to question.
The PTI chief had earlier ruled out negotiations with the PML-N after acknowledging that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had accepted his party’s demands, but the offer had come too late.
"Now we’ll meet on August 14," Imran had said, adding that a case would be registered against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif if the police or army fire a bullet at the participants of the tsunami march scheduled for Independence Day.
Referring to PTI's march, Rafique said on Sunday, "if someone is going to criticise the government then August 14 is not a suitable day to do it."
"At least on this one day, we should give a message of unity," Rafique said, adding that difference of opinion should be expressed in a good way and not in a confrontational manner.
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COMMENTS (28)
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@Fawad: Good on you Fawad, thats exactly the reason we need to oust these criminals
@Chachoo: Democratically elected government. I must say you have really a good sense of humour.
@Adnan Siddiqi: Yeah, I don't think they will resign either. However, mid-term elections are a possibility. Lets see....we'll find out soon enough.
@Blithe: I don't know man...he looks plenty worried. Actually he has been looking worried for last one year.
'Standing outside the mosque with a Pakistani flag in his hand' LOL. This is something straight out of Aamir Liaquat's book. The riggers are panicking because the walls are closing in. I cannot have a cheater rule my country nor those who want to loot it. The finally countdown has begun for this ill-legitimate bunch to go home.
Fear is very visible from PMLN faces. It's been 14 months since biggest election rigging occurred in the history of Pakistan. PTI went to following bodies for election rigging investigations;
• Election Tribuanls- No results because of court stay orders(including NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq 9 months stay order)
• Supreme Court of Pakistan- refer to election commission- same above result
• National Assembly- PMLN said 20-20 seats will be verified. PMLN want 4 IK seats to be verified(IK agreed). PMLN back off.
Still there is no hope for justice. What PTI should do?
On 14 august 180 millions people of Pakistan will be free from PMLN and PPP Muk Muka for forever.
The likes of SMQ, Jahangir Tareen and all such toadies of the establishment are instigating IK towards anarchy for their own little petty political gains. If god forbid we descend into an abyss of chaos and gloom on 15th August, it will be SMQ and Jahangir Tareen who will benefit the most and IK would be thrown away like a used hand wipe. If this stunt fails, y'all can bet with me that these establishment touts will be wagging their tails at the doorstep of NS and PML-N in the coming days.
The hate against own Pakistanis is so great, they humiliate them as burgers etc. come on bring some logic into debate without hate and name calling. They ridiculed PTI demands against rigging, instead of doing something! Dont know what they want to talk about now? either they were right before or they are wrong now!
It can be understood, that why wouldnt they want to expose own rigging as it goes against them. So they are trying to teach Imran a lesson by using age old tactics of delays in courts, a perfect legal demand for fair elections is ridiculed like a joke! Because they used to it and think they can get away with it.
The government will not and I repeat will not resign nor it will go into mid-term polls because this will set a dangerous precedent wherein in the future, any 10-15 seater party in the NA will bring out 50K followers out on the roads creating anarchy and blackmailing a sitting majority government to call for re-elections. NS will just not entertain anything of these sorts. IK and his supporters are sincerely advised to bring their own portable latrines with them. Burger Bachas relieving themselves out in the open is something that I think they are not used to.
This government is here to stay and not only PTI's rank pathetic government in KPK would be sent packing post 15th August, IK would also be bundled to his daughter at Kiddington Hall Oxfordshire.
@salman: No, he's not worried. He's pointing out that as a statesman IK is not even out of the incubator .
iK knows that he only has two months (the ISI chief retires then). But he is immature and doesn't see the writing in the wall - he's brand of military- politics is dead .
There seems to be no difference in IK and TQ and IK wants to repeat what TQ did last year. People will make fun of IK just like they do of TQ nowadays. Both IK and TQ have many similarities too. Both talk about ideal things which are impractical / unconstitutional and are far from reality. Both want to become PM of Pakistan. Both are funded from abroad. Both are emotional speakers. Both dont have clear agenda about how can they make changes in current system without unconstitutional means. Both want just dhernas on streets to resolve issues. These dhernas are OK if courts or parliment forums are not accessible to resolve issues.
@LHR Quaid Pakistan can never be if democracy doesn't work. power always remains in the hand of the few, not because ppl like them but because elections are never fair. Everyone knows that.
PTI has been going on about political reforms and recount on only 4 constituencies for the past 1 year, no action taken.
PMLN confronted and killed Qadri followers at model town for no reason, they called in the army to deal with a simple protest, they have continuously been pushing the Mushy trial which is further agitating the establishment. Most PMLN cabinet ministers are related.
After all that you still think we have democracy and PMLN are a good govt? seriously?
We are at boiling point and all we need is direction.. and right time.. we can not afford this inflation rate and energy crises, law and order cirses, level of corruption is way to high.. we in debt up to our heads.. this is ridicules
@Chachoo: pmln was provided with good time.. but all time they try to confuse and fuse the situation... now they are making a drama... 14 august the liberation day from this muk mukka setup...
So IK (who doesn't believe in judiciary ) and TuQ (who doesn't believe in constitution) are pairing up.
It's good! Both of them will be consigned together in the dustbin of history. Pakistanis are too wise for anything extra-constitutional.
Imran is playing in the hands of dark forces. These dark forces will not spare him if he backs off now. In either case Imran will get nothing. On 15th August he will become history.
@Alam: Yes thats why Army is already deployed in islamabad....Now would you be ready for operation?
“Imran Khan is willing to talk to the Taliban, even today, so why is he not willing to talk to the government?” .. Yes, but would you be ready for an 'Operation' if the talk fails.
PTI has given enough time to resolve the issues of rigging, every platform is failed to provide the justice to Imran Khan. It is a democratically right to protest against every institute who failed to provide justice.
PTI Chief is immature politicians. Political differences are always resolved through dialogue not in the streets. Mature politicians such as Javed Hashmi and Shah Mahmood are playing their own number games in the PTI.
14 August....is chosen by IK as the day for NAYA Pakistan.......It is exactly on this day that Quaid-e-Azam created Pakistan.
So Khan Sahib wants to replace Quaid's OLD Pakistan with Khan's NAYA Pakistan?
this is shameless. what has imran been doing for last 1 year? and who was turning down the negotiations and requests continuously?
Saad looks worried.
Saad Rafique's argument is alright. Imran Khan always wants to talk with Taliban but when it comes to democratically elected government then he dont want any talks at all?.
They had one year to talk to PTI and try and resolve issues, and did nothing. Now they are panicking and want to talk. LOL. These riggers deserve everything that is coming their way. As a nation we cannot progress unless we stop this rigging and cheating.
'Khawaja saad rafique stood outside the mosque with Pakistan's flag in one hand and his brother Salman rafique, who is also a minister, on his other hand'. This is exactly why we need azadi march. To replace monarchy with democracy.