Govt allies seek NA session on TLP fiasco

Ask the ruling party to relinquish its 'ego', remedy grievances and prevent internal discord

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:

Breaking its silence as the crisis deepens for the ruling party, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) on Friday asked the latter to give an explanation over the ongoing agitation by the proscribed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and convene an immediate session of parliament.

In a letter written to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser asking him to immediately summon the session, GDA’s Saira Bano stated that the government had earlier promised to take up the matter with parliament, recalling that a resolution was also tabled before the NA when the outlawed group took to the streets earlier this year.

“Today, the issue has once again reared its head prompting the people to protest and flood the streets,” she said, lamenting that the irresponsible attitude of the government was further fuelling the hand-wringing among the people.

The letter criticised the government for its mishandling of the situation and shrugging off the calls for talks which, she said, had led to multiple deaths.

The MNA bemoaned the lack of comprehensive policy on the part of the ruling party to resolve the grievances.

“Irresponsible statements made by our ministers and advisers have intensified the tension, inflamming sentiments of the ordinary Pakistanis,” Saira highlighted, demanding that the lawmakers should be consulted to formulate a clear policy to tackle these unresolved issues.

‘No choice but to restore peace’On the other hand, PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi sounded alarm and took great exception to the government’s “persistent refusal” to negotiate with the group.

“If there can be talks with the enemy country then why not with the people of this country,” he wondered, suggesting that the door for initiating dialogue should not be shut out of hand.

The Punjab Assembly speaker stressed that the only option at the ruling party’s disposal was to restore peace to salvage law and order, emphasising it was the government’s primary responsibility to protect the life and property of citizens.

“Were those who lost their lives any less of a Muslim?” he asked, blaming the government for the deteriorating situation.

“Governments ought to relinquish their egos in order to remedy grievances and prevent bloodshed,” he added.