Nov 2 sit-in: PPP drops hint of throwing its weight behind govt

Sources say change of stance owing to back-channel talks

ISLAMABAD: After staying on the fence and criticising both Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for the ongoing political impasse, the Pakistan Peoples Party on Tuesday dropped a broad hint of throwing its weight behind the government if its demands are met.

“Our leadership has made four demands to the government. If the government is ready to talk on these demands we are ready to enter into a dialogue,” Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khurseed Shah said.

The statement came at a crucial time when both PML-N and PTI are desperately looking for support from other parties.

PTI chief Imran Khan threatens to lock down the capital when his party launches a protest march on November 2.

Shah recently made hard-hitting statements against the two belligerent parties during the past few weeks holding both of them responsible for the current stalemate.



Sources privy to the matter revealed that this change of stance was the result of some back-channel communications between the PML-N and PPP top leadership during the past few days.

The PPP demands include re-constitution of parliamentary committee on national security on the pattern of a panel that had been constituted during the previous government.

The party had also demanded implementation of the resolution passed by an All Parties Conference on China Pakistan Economic Corridor with more focus on the western route. It has also called for the appointment of a foreign minister. The party had also demanded that the government support the opposition’s bill on Panama Leaks. Excluding the last point, the government can easily meet the demands of the opposition party.

Playing tactfully PPP at the same time continues to support PTI’s demand to end corruption. “At the time of (PTI’s) 2014 sit-in, the situation was different. In the previous protest, it was parliament that was challenged. This time, it is on issue of corruption,” Shah said justifying reasons of PTI’s protest campaign.

According to the opposition leader, a lot would depend on the Supreme Court proceedings. The hearing of petitions filed against the prime minister is scheduled to take place on November 1— a day before PTI’s protest.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2016.