Standoff : PPP slams govt for mishandling twin protests

Advises parties to resolve differences through dialogue.


Our Correspondent August 22, 2014

KARACHI:


Leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) took a swipe at the government on Thursday for mishandling the throngs of protesters at the twin marches in Islamabad.


Calling the ruling party’s tactics ‘short-sighted’ and ‘high-handed’, the PPP urged all groupings involved in the conflict to resolve the issues at hand without recourse to further violence and disrupting public life in the capital as well as in the country.

During the meeting, held in Dubai, late last night the party leaders demanded that Yousaf Raza Gilani and Salman Taseer’s sons be recovered as soon as possible.

The meeting, jointly chaired by co-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Asif Ali Zardari, and patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, was convened to discuss the current political situation in Pakistan.

Former president Zardari reiterated that the current political crisis be addressed through dialogue and within the framework of the Constitution.

Participants of the meeting condemned the brutal murders in Model Town, Lahore, on June 17 2014, and demanded that an FIR be swiftly registered in accordance with the law.

The party leaders cautioned that any unconstitutional path taken to resolve the current stalemate would be detrimental to the future of democracy and the stability of Pakistan.

The co-chairman noted with concern that instead of focusing on providing relief to a million citizens of North Waziristan who had been displaced in the on-going offensive against terrorism, both the provincial and federal governments had entangled themselves and their country in a protracted dispute that was avoidable.

He lauded the services and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who were fighting on the front lines of terrorism, and hoped that the country would soon be rid of this menace.

The party members said that long overdue electoral reforms should also be taken up by the parliamentary committee to be completed after broad consultation, within a stipulated time frame.

Zardari arrived in Karachi on Thursday night following the tense political situation in the country.  Sources close to the PPP said that an important meeting with senior leaders of the party will be held today (Friday) to defuse the political crisis.

“The first round of meetings was held in Dubai with some CEC and core committee members on Wednesday night and the second sitting is being held in Karachi to ensure the participation of all senior leaders who would be consulted on current situation,” spokesman for Bilawal House said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (1)

oho | 9 years ago | Reply

Mr Zardari and associates, your plight will be worst than this because the twin protests are mainly against corruption and hereditary politics of which you are considered to be a master. Stop playing the big brother role to get political milage, rather wholeheartedly support the constitution and system.

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