Protest etiquette: PTI, PAT hammer out 4-point agenda
Both sides say struggle for democracy will be non-violent
LAHORE:
Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) vowed on Tuesday that their parallel August 14 marches would be non-violent and their struggle would not cross constitutional boundaries, ruling out the possibility of any support for martial law in the country.
The two parties made the pledge after hammering out a four-point agenda for their respective Inqilab march and Azadi march.
After holding consultations with PAT leaders, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that both groups would hold peaceful marches within the constitutional limits and would not tolerate martial law in the state.
A PTI delegation headed by Qureshi met PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat to discuss reservations over the latter’s “belligerent” statements.
During the meeting, both the sides had a detailed discussion and agreed upon a four-point agenda vis-a-vis the protest marches.
Outlining the points to the media after the huddle, Qureshi said both the parties will struggle to install real democracy in the state. “Both will remain within their constitutional limits. The struggle against the government will be peaceful and non-violent,” said the PTI leader.
None of the two parties will tolerate a martial law in the country, he said, which was the fourth point of their agreement.
Moreover, he demanded the federal and Punjab government remove containers and let the people participate in the long march. The PTI leader said such acts by the government are indeed a negation of democracy.
Also speaking at the press briefing, PAT spokesperson Qazi Faizul Islam said the prime minister’s address to the nation would be his last speech as premier. He said the government can place as many containers as it wants but “these cheap tactics” will not stop PAT workers from swamping the revolution march.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th,2014.
Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) vowed on Tuesday that their parallel August 14 marches would be non-violent and their struggle would not cross constitutional boundaries, ruling out the possibility of any support for martial law in the country.
The two parties made the pledge after hammering out a four-point agenda for their respective Inqilab march and Azadi march.
After holding consultations with PAT leaders, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that both groups would hold peaceful marches within the constitutional limits and would not tolerate martial law in the state.
A PTI delegation headed by Qureshi met PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri at the Minhajul Quran Secretariat to discuss reservations over the latter’s “belligerent” statements.
During the meeting, both the sides had a detailed discussion and agreed upon a four-point agenda vis-a-vis the protest marches.
Outlining the points to the media after the huddle, Qureshi said both the parties will struggle to install real democracy in the state. “Both will remain within their constitutional limits. The struggle against the government will be peaceful and non-violent,” said the PTI leader.
None of the two parties will tolerate a martial law in the country, he said, which was the fourth point of their agreement.
Moreover, he demanded the federal and Punjab government remove containers and let the people participate in the long march. The PTI leader said such acts by the government are indeed a negation of democracy.
Also speaking at the press briefing, PAT spokesperson Qazi Faizul Islam said the prime minister’s address to the nation would be his last speech as premier. He said the government can place as many containers as it wants but “these cheap tactics” will not stop PAT workers from swamping the revolution march.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th,2014.