Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will either meet former president Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad or send a close aide to consult with him in London in the coming days, before taking a decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s long march, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the PM and Zardari also had a late night telephonic conversation.
The sources in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said the PM informed his senior party leadership that he would take Zardari into confidence on decision regarding the PTI’s long march, to be held in Islamabad on August 14. After this meeting, PML-N would be able to shape up final decision on the long march, they added.
They said Zardari is likely to meet Nawaz Sharif in the coming days. But if he could not come to Pakistan in a couple of days then Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will go abroad and discuss an amicable solution of Imran Khan’s long march and Qadri’s revolution march.
It is pertinent to mention that Zardari has recently made contacts with political parties’ heads and called up Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfand Yar Wali Khan, PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan and Jamaat-e-Islam (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq.
According to sources, the former president is getting their demands, which will be shared with Nawaz or with his close aide in their coming meeting to strike some deal between the PTI and the federal government.
The sources said Zardari wants some relaxation for the PTI and is working on some draft of proposals, which he wants to develop before becoming part of the consensus that the PML-N wants to have on the PTI’s long march.
Talking with The Express Tribune, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid confirmed the PML-N is in contact with Zardari and his party. He said Khurshid Shah’s meeting with PM was also held with the approval of the former president.
He neither confirmed nor denied that Nawaz Sharif or Dar were going to meet the PPP’s co-chairman. However he said it was part of the PML-N policy to communicate with democratic forces.
Meanwhile, the PML-N in its Monday’s meeting sought ways to deal with the PTI’s August 14 Independence March and Dr Tahirul Qadri’s August 10 Martyrs’ Day. The majority voices in the meeting supported the idea of allowing Imran Khan and Dr Qadri’s marches enter Islamabad. They, however, suggested that any decision to allow or disallow the PTI should be taken after consultation with all major political parties.
The PML-N senior leaders have suggested that the decision on the long march should look like a decision of all major political parties and not just that of the PML-N. The PM on Tuesday also held meetings with leaders of various political parties at PM House and sought their opinion on the one-point agenda – whether or not the PTI should be allowed to hold a long march in Islamabad.
According to sources, all leaders – including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Sherpao – have urged Nawaz to allow the long march in Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th,2014.
COMMENTS (15)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Imran Qadri
I ask u a very simple and logical question, rather than hitting left & right just answer the question. But in reality neither you or PMLN have any answer for this because the mass rigging practiced in May 2013 elections by PMLN can't not be hide.
All the allegations you associated with PTI are well practiced by PMLN, just google the PMLN history ( Doger SC/Asad Dirani etc).
No matter how much tax payers money PMLN blow on their media teams to politicized the PTI constitutional demand to conduct a complete audit of May elections, it's very unlikely they will be succeeded to do so. These are all old stories.
Pakistani deserved to be govern by any political party whom they voted for and it any can happened under a free & fair election.
@Ali. I
Now you're talking! you guys don't believe in election commission, you guys don't election tribunal, you guys don't believe in appeal courts, you guys don't believe word of independent election monitors, where exactly do you want verify the voting results? In D chowk or in court of Bani Gala sarkar?
This pretty much sums up everything that is wrong with Pakistan at this moment in time. These two individuals have gained eminence largely due to their looting of the national treasury and other shadowy wheeling & dealing than they have due to any political accomplishments or the lack of them. Yet the Pakistani electorate cannot see past these men or their ilk when it comes to electing in their leadership. Really sad....extremely.
The League is always trying to solve yesterday's problems--they are perpetually sleeping on the wheel!
Imran has moved on and issued new demands: resign and hold fresh elections. It is still time to pay attention to these new demands or the League will miss the boat again.
@imran Qadri
PMLN has 166 seats? Yes!! PTI demand to verify these votes under a transparent body to kill their rigging concerns/allegations. Simple is that;)
PMLN doesn't have any constitutional authority to do it? If PMLN can introduce new laws and amendments to secure loans from IMF why not to verify votes????
@Imran Qadri: We are not playing a musical chair here, every day we have new news of PMLN corruptions!! Is Mr Shareer willing to change and atleast stop his own corruption? He is fueling PTI to come on streets. Zardari's latest visit to US has proven fruitful and he is now in a position to take over Presidency again by assuring US that he will handle opposition and will help PMLN complete its tenure of 5 years!!
We need a modern day Abdali .... GO KHAN
Corrupt seeking advise from a corrupt, an indicent but a wise move.
All Mega Thieves are united against change of this corrupt system
The disciple consulting the "GURU" ... The Baron of fraud and deceit ....
lol. Is Nawaz Sharif so incompetent that he cant even make decisions himself when he is the prime minister, inspite of all his cabinet ministers advicing him. What a confused Prime Minister. However, I have to say the person playing all sides the best in this is Zardari. He is coming out like the good guy to all parties. I think that statements that he is a shrewd person are not understated!
@Sami: Thank you Sami. You have spoken sensibly. But what can be said about the Gullu Butt mind set. They will never open the 4 seats for re-counting. Because everyone knows who won. It is an open secret. PMLN will go down no matter if they do re-counting or not. Their time is over. Game Over.
Imran Khan wants to be PM at any cost even by hook or by crook. PTI is 3rd largest party in National assembly with 35 seat after PPP which has 45 seats whereas PMLN with 166 is largest party in NA.
Earlier I had given suggestion of activating deputy PM slot for Imran just like that of Pervaiz Ellahi during last PPP tenure.
Now looking at the eagerness and impatience being shown by Imran to become PM I personally feel all 3 largest parties could form a coalition & have some sort of power sharing mechanism just like Balochistan assembly.
PMLN(166) + PPP(45) + PTI(35) = 246
Percentage PMLN(67%) PPP(10.8 %) PTI (8.4%)
5 years of tenure to govern = 60 months
PMLN's time to rule = 67% of 60 months = 40 Months
PPP's time to rule = 18% of 60 mnths = 10.8 Months
PTI's time to rule = 14 % of 60 months = 8.4 months
If PPP don't join this coilation then PTI would get extra 2 months(10.4 months) in this arrangement.
If Imran wants to come to power through any unconstitutional back-door or short cut just like he was aspiring in 2002 dictator controlled sham elections(which he ironically to this day never declared as rigged elections) then rest assured he won't be ever able to rule in peace either if he destabilizes a democratic government.
PMLn should behave democratically which it did not do until now. PMLn government should listen and fulfil (fulfil mean fulfil in reality) democratic and genuine demands of PTI and provide justice to Mr. Qadri at any cost. Although PTI has demanded resignation of PM and re-election but its senior leadership is clear in mind that this is just to build pressure to meet demands because it is not a good solution. If government does not listen to genuine concerns of PTI then government days are counted. It happens in developing democracies.
Good thing about change is that PM will still be a Sharif.