ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced that it would stage a sit-in outside the Presidency to protest the on-going power crisis.
Though the PML-N’s own government in Punjab is struggling to cope with the outbreak of dengue in the province, the central opposition is looking to cash in on the riots against a crippling electricity shortfall that reached a zenith recently.
(Read: Electricity blackouts - 200 rioters sent to jail as power protests continue)
The party walked out from the National Assembly during Wednesday’s session and then later announced its plans to take its protest to the next level. “The PML-N will stage a sit-in outside the Presidency against the government’s failure to address the power crisis,” opposition leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said.
While revealing the proposed plan, he said, “We will hold a peaceful walk from the Parliament House to the Presidency as well.”
“We have the capacity to end load-shedding, but, in three years, this government has allowed the problem to get worse,” Khan said.
Nisar lashed out at President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, saying that, instead of taking concrete steps, they had only made verbal promises. “The government should tell us what steps it has taken since the outbreak of protests in the country,” he inquired.
(Read: Electricity matters)
Interior Minister Rehman Malik welcomed the PML-N’s announcement, saying that peaceful protesters would be facilitated. However, he added, the “sit-in” was simply a diversion tactic aimed at drawing people’s attention away from the failure of the Punjab government to overcome the dengue menace.
Returning to the issue, Malik reasoned that the government had “inherited” the load-shedding problem, adding however, that it would soon be resolved.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (11)
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PML-N wants to use this opportunity. I think this would be first step to oust the govt. PMLN will see if the people join them and then they will demand resignation from Zardari and then from Gilani so that they could bar PPP from getting majority in Senate in 2012 senate elections.
PML-N would not go for protest Dharna when hundreds of Shia are killed, to get the facts out on OBL's presence in Kakul, Mehran Base, Karachi killings, Baloch killings, etc. However, to avoid March 2012 senate elections they would go to any extent even to torpedo the new democracy. Being a regional party, PML-N does not have any chance in the senate elections and their best bet is to come to power via backdoor or SC help.
There Political Gimmics are Not Required. @ Acorn Guts This is all they aim for, ''headline on TV channels and picture in tomorrows paper''
Power will be restored on the next Eid. I think they pack the power and store it in the president house.
PMLN has done right to give time to the Govt who was voted by the people. People criticize them but do not realize what would happen to the sentiments of ppl of Sindh there are many aspects. They have now entered into final phase of their Govt and are exposed what can they do for people and its right time for PMLN to make a political move and get elections before March senate elections!
Yes, do your dharna the most you'll get out of it is a headline on TV channels and picture in tomorrows paper .. yawn .. I'll put some more fuel in the generator and cross my fingers that we'll get enough electricity today to charge up the UPS.
Why not suggest solutions instead of pompous talk.
You Sir, are part of the system, and by deciding not to oppose the policies of the present Government are also responsible for the current state of affairs