Premier Ashraf contacting top politicians to enlist their support for ‘the system’. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The government is poring over plans for a multiparty brainstorming conference that is aimed at tackling political and security volatility in the country, The Express Tribune has learnt.
A final decision to convene an all parties conference (APC) will, however, be taken in the next few days after Premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf winds up his ongoing consultations with heads of key political parties, according to sources.
On Friday, the prime minister enlisted PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and ANP leader Asfandyar Wali to the cause of “safeguarding democracy” in the country. The two leaders assured the premier that their parties would stand with the government and would help quash any threat to the democratic system in place.
The prime minister also met with Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as part of his consultative process.
Apparently, the process has been set in motion by influential scholar Dr Tahirul Qadri’s proposed long march through Islamabad’s streets on February 14 if the government failed to introduce sweeping electoral reforms.
A principal ally of the government – the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – has already announced that “thousands” of its workers will attend the “million-man march” of Dr Qadri, although the party said it would remain part of the ruling coalition. The PML-Q, on the other hand, advised the government to initiate dialogue with Dr Qadri to understand his viewpoint.
Sources told The Express Tribune that the idea of convening an APC was floated by PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai in his meeting with the prime minister on Friday. Although the government has agreed with the proposal, a final decision will be made following Ashraf’s meeting with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the next couple of days. The MQM is said to be non-committal on its participation in the proposed APC.
The APC is also likely to discuss the fluid security situation in the country following a string of high-profile terrorist attacks, including the killing of senior ANP leader Bashir Ahmed Bilour in a suicide bombing.
“We have asked the government to convene the APC as the situation for ANP in K-P is going from bad to worse,” the party’s general secretary, Senator Zahid Khan, told The Express Tribune.
The senator said that ANP chief Asfandyar would meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Premier Ashraf next week to discuss the matter. Dr Qadri’s “million-man march” will also be discussed at the meeting, according to Senator Khan.
“Although our leadership has been issuing statements in support of the PPP in its official capacity as an ally, internally there are certain issues that need to be fixed by the govt or else we will withdraw our support on the Qadri matter,” a senior ANP parliamentarian told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.
Push for military operation
At the APC, the ANP is also likely to push for decisive action against “terrorist sanctuaries” in the province and adjoining tribal regions.
The unnamed ANP lawmaker said that his party has established contacts with the military leadership, as they are the frontline force in K-P, along with the ANP, facing Taliban insurgents.
“The ANP went for this move without consulting the PPP leadership and there will be an important development after talks with the military,” he added.
A source stationed at the Prime Minister House told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that “the government is ready to convene the APC but [the ANP’s] push for a military operation in tribal areas, particularly in North Waziristan Agency, is not considered wise keeping in view the forthcoming elections and bad economic conditions of the country.”
He added that the prime minister, however, in his meeting with the president a few days ago had discussed the issue in detail and the government has been trying to convince the ANP leadership to think logically. Military officials refused to confirm any talks with the ANP leadership, with a senior army official saying that “it was for the federal government to take a final decision on the matter [of launching a military offensive].”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (5)
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If they are that worried about following the constitution and safeguarding democracy, why didn't they bring in the simple electoral reforms? Why not empower the election commission, why don't they gather all parties including Dr. Qadri and give an assurance that this is going to be the caretaker? The answer is because these politicians are the sole beneficiaries of this "democratic" system and are hurt that changes are going to be made that won't suit them.
Democracy as defined by the current people in power: A system by which they amass illegal wealth without accountability and enact and bypass laws which suit their whims and wishes without thinking about the common man until election time.
Its only the politicians who are worried about the democracy because its there bread and butter, the common man has had NO benefit from the last nearly 5 years of it, look at the electricity, CNG, gass shortage, look at our goverment hospitals, colleges and schools,Public transport, PIA, Railway childeren are dying of preventable diseases, look at our economy and law and order situation, what good are these amendements and democracy to us common Pakistanis...
Safeguarding democracy? Haaahh! The number of times the Supreme Court was disobeyed, the number of corruption cases, the unmeritorious placements in PSM, PIA, and PWR, NIC case, Haj pilgrims funds drama, inflation, power outages, gas shortages, power plants fiasco, etc. and they talk of safeguarding democracy. Salams to Pakistan in 2013 and beyond.
I have failed to see exactly what has this democracy and system given us in the past 5 years. Rampant corruption, nepotism, destruction of national institutions, abysmal law and order, flight of capital, brain drain to name a few things. We were way better during Mushrraf's era. Too bad the "jahil" masses of this country failed to see that and spoiled a perfectly good thing. God save us from this revenge of the democracy.