Sit-ins in the capital: JI chief, PPP leader discuss political standoff

They pledged not to let the democratic process derail with the growing rift between government and agitating parties

KARACHI:

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq met with Pakistan Peoples Party leader Khurshid Shah on Sunday to discuss the political crisis stoked by opposition marches against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his one-year-old government.

The two leaders pledged that they will not let the democratic process derail amidst the growing rift between the government and the agitating parties.

Speaking to media at the PPP leader’s residence, Haq said that martial law was not the solution to the problems besetting the nation.



“We have called for a meeting of all parties for consultation after which we will call the government and Tehreek-e-Insaf for dialogue to resolve their differences,” he said.

Appreciating the government for removing the barriers, he said: “The government opened the roads upon our request thus one half of the issue was resolved, now we will solve the remaining half by sitting together for talks.”

Throwing his weight behind the JI chief, Shah vowed to protect democracy in the country.

Responding to a question regarding the red zone, the PPP leader said that Imran Khan had assured that his supporters would not resort to aggression and would stay peaceful. “Imran Khan has political consciousness and will not opt for such moves,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th,2014.