After failing to bring Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader Dr Tahirul Qadri to the negotiating table, opposition leaders have distanced themselves from the showdown.
On Tuesday, instead of attending the National Assembly session, leaders of parliamentary parties gathered in the chamber of the Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah. The opposition leader reportedly told the meeting that even though he had served as a guarantor for PTI’s and PAT’s marches, the PTI leadership ‘ridicules’ him.
“We are not with the government nor are we going to suggest anything but during today’s meeting we vowed to protect the Constitution, democracy and parliament,” said Shah. All participants of the meeting expressed concerns over the conduct of the PTI and PAT chiefs. They decided to convey to the government that they will no longer serve as guarantors for both parties. Shah said he tried to meet Imran and Qadri until 3am on Monday night but was unable to.
The parliamentary leaders also decided to not interfere in the government’s attempts to tackle the two long marches in the capital. Opposition parties will not urge the PTI and PAT to enter into negotiations, but will remain available for any mediation.
Participants at the meeting included Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, former interior minister and Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Sherpao, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch, JIU-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Hasil Khan Bizenjo and Awami National Party senior leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour. The second tier leaders of all these parties discussed the current political situation during Tuesday’s National Assembly session. One PTI MNA reportedly attended Tuesday’s assembly session, but left the session without saying a word. It is unclear whether he was sent to the session by party leadership or attended of his own accord.
Addressing the media, Shah said all political parties are united for democracy. “All opposition parties support dialogue with Imran Khan and Dr Qadri,” he said.
Clarifying that the government let the two parties hold their protests in Islamabad on the guarantee given by the PTI and PAT chiefs to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar that they will not cross into the Red Zone, Shah said that if the PTI enters the Red Zone, it will be a “regrettable” act. While Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Imran had promised not to enter the Red Zone, Shah backed his claim, saying he had served as guarantor for this agreement.
The government, a day earlier had formed two five-member committees to negotiate with PTI and PAT. However, things turned when both Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri refused to hold talks with the committee. An addition government committee was formed to assist the opposition leaders committee including Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Railways Saad Rafique, Adviser to the Prime Minister Irfan Siddiqui and Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt Gen Qadir Baloch.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 20th,2014.
COMMENTS (25)
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It is time the parliament passes a unanimous resolution dismissing PTIs and TUQ demands and demand action for the blackmailing and threatening position adopted by these two parties. Enough should be enough. IK has already demeaned himself and his party enough and his supporters have a right to question the sanity of his political approach.
Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination. There is no Democracy any where in pakistan just autocratic form of GOVT.
The reason why they are siding with the govt is clear. The victim of the worst rigging in Pakistan's history is IK and PTI. PPP got its share of the pie by being allowed to rig elections in Sindh and it could not even dream of winning punjab especially its dismal perofrmance and IK's entry in to politics after Oct 2011. MQM got its share of Karachi and Hyderabad as usual and kept quiet. They did not have any stakes in Panjab. ANP was washed out from the only province they depend on and they have to oppose IK under any circumstances if they have to have a chance of keeping its politics alive even on ventilator. The real fight was between PTI and N League in Panjab and thats where PTI has been wronged. IK was the only real challenge left to the family limited company of Sharif brothers and they had to win it at any cost. N League's very existence depended on a victory in Panjab. they dont have any stakes in any other province except one district of KP (Hazara). Other then that N League's own vote is limited to Panjab. Its vote bank in Balochistan depends on the Sardars who control the masses and they will join any one in a position to form a govt in the centre. It hardly got any votes in Sindh except one provincial seat from Karachi and even that result was declared void by the tribunal due to rigging. Sherpao has a good reason to oppose IK as 3 of his ministers were ousted from KP govt on corruption charges and Maulana Sahib who had already used his cards in 2002 elections stood no chance of winning except few seats in KP and Balochistan.
Direct Action will always be successful in Pakistan! IK and TuQ are following in the footsteps of Quaid.
If Imran khan demands are to be met and mid term elections take place, and somehow he comes up with majority and forms a government. What will happen when some other party march towards the capital in masses? Is Pakistan going to go through all these concerts again and again? and if by any chance army intervenes... Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif will be starting another blame game. Mr. Captaan should wait for his turn and not hurt democracy. Afterall, he doesn't makes any sense by saying the elections were rigged but not in KPK.
Imran Khan is thinking that he is representing the whole Pakistan.. he is selfish and not thinking about the losses Pakistan is suffering because of this dance party. Moreover, if army takes over... isn't Imran Khan is to be blamed?
and the collusion of status quo forces continues. We are not surprised Mr. Shah!
How could they give guarantees of others, when no one is willing to give theirs??????
Both IK and TuQ are completely wrong. All the international observors had confirmed that the elections were by and large free and fair. IK is a sore loser. He has sourouded himself by opportunists and turncoats. I have grave doubts about his sincerety and maturity. Shaikh Rashid, Tareen etc are all Musharaf's lackeys. TUQ has the champions of corruption the Chaudhry's as his close advisors. My extended family and I have decided not to support PTI any more. Unfortunately this is an ancharist party that does not deserve our confidence.
One egomaniac is fighting with another ego maniac... and people are suffering...
Civil disobedience by not paying utility bills and taxes = win for NS, Enter into red zone by completely thrashing government restrictions = win for IK
comon captain, momentum is with you....storm the PM house!!!!
@Lion King...go in the past...Khurshid Shah............he was a WAPDA line man before entering politics,............
I'm glad the corrupt opposition has backed down too. We need to get rid of all the corrupt parties in our democratic setup. We need to save Pakistan from all the evils of PPP/MQM/PMLN/ANP/JUIF/PMLQ. The army shall be with the protectors of Pakistan. They have already given a warning if NS doesn't step down i guess the army will have no choice but to come on and cleanse the system and then hold free and fair election with biometric machines. Only after that will we see reall change in Pakistan. IK you made me proud of my nation yesterday. We woke up and now we will not let these corrupt politicians rule over us anymore.GO NAWAZ GO.
14 innocents were killed in model town
This Azadi march Fiasco has served no one and it be would adequate to call it - Pakistan`s march towards chaos.
Khursheed Shah should lead the opposition in favour of Nawaz Sharif because the PTI and PAT have many unconstitutional demands. Especially, PTI's leaderships is continuously making wrong political decisions. They will regret it soon.
A clip sent to by my friend sums up the PPP-Z position. It shows AZ addressing the nation saying : Now that you have decided to make a new Pakistan, may I sell the old one. :-)
PPP scurrying to help the Government against PTI and PAT. They are no different than PMLN. Just taking turns to rule the nation for 5 years each and enrich themselves. Pakistani people NEED a change. They should not agree to live in poverty and under oppression anymore.
It is obvious that corrupt status quo is running from pillar to post to save their lucrative jobs rather than Constitution of Pakistan.
Opposition leader is a man who categorically stated that he damn cares about laws during his tenure as minister now he seems to be most law abiding citizen of Pakistan.
No one trust on these tried politicians of Pak.. These people r very clever ... all know them since they r in politics
@Guest Before coming to ISB PTI made a deal to not enter red zone. IK even confirmed such a deal in ARY interview. The two day deadline was issued after coming to ISB.
Take a tour of Sukkur city and you'd be "dazzled" by the corruption karnamay of the honorable opposition leader always in a tough fight with another wadera corruption mafia "star" Islamuddin Sheikh over who leads on the front (of corruption)
True IMran Khan has some ego issues but did they not realize that Nawaz Sharif is an even bigger egomaniac.
After digging themselves into a hole by openly and publicly shaking hands with the embattled PM, Khursheed Shah now realises his mistake. Too late mate, people may forget the size of the crowd in IK's march but they will remember your handshake with NS. No second term for PPP.
OMG! where do you get such incomplete information from? Yes PTI said they will not enter the red zone for TWO days. After TWO days it is the government who will push them to do so! How many times will Khan have to come on TV to state this?