Views on standoff: Imran hostage to his supporters’ expectations says Safdar Abbasi

Former PPP senator adds that democracy does not depend upon Nawaz's premiership.

SUKKUR: The radical, militant youth who have given unflinching support to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan's brand of politics and who seem committed to changing the country's corrupt political culture are today demanding that their leader fulfils his promise of a new Pakistan, said former PPP senator Safdar Ali Abbasi while talking to The Express Tribune about the present political scenario.

Democracy was supreme but Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should keep in mind that it was not dependent upon his premiership, he asserted. Rather, it was a way of life for institutions and political parties.

On the other hand, it seemed to Safdar that Imran had become a hostage to the exaggerated expectations he had generated among his supporters. While he lauded PTI for creating a political awakening in the general public, he added that every movement needed an exit strategy and it was time for PTI to think about theirs.

Safdar also said that Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri was merely a moderate scholar with the ability to mesmerise his audience, whether they were sitting in the scorching heat or in biting cold.

Moving on to the army chief, General Raheel Sharif, Safdar said that he has a clean record and is unburdened by any baggage from the past. He added that the general had till now shown great patience with the current situation, and was hopeful that he would continue to do so.

Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League-Functional MPA Nusrat Sehar Abbasi said that although there was undoubtedly massive rigging in last year's general elections, her party had accepted it under protest to save the system. PTI had demanded the scrutiny of four constituencies but the government had refused to do so, she said.

Supporting PTI's demand for electoral reforms, Nusrat commented that these were of utmost importance to save the country's future. Talking about defusing the tension between the government and the marchers, she said that political parties have delayed the reconciliatory process. However, she remained optimistic that the country would emerge from the standoff shortly.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.