As the death of a PTI worker in Faisalabad sparked protests in major cities, Syed Khurshid Shah, the leader of opposition in the National Assembly, advised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resolve the row with Imran Khan through dialogue as “politics of confrontation is weakening the country”.
“I ask you Mian Sahib to come forward and settle this issue through political means as this [political] tussle is weakening the state,” Shah said while speaking on the floor of the house where hardly over two dozen lawmakers were present. At the same time, Shah gave the PTI a piece of advice. “Khan Sahib, you can serve your countrymen while standing here in this house as the only legal way to come into power is elections, not force.”
The opposition leader said that neither Nawaz Sharif nor Imran Khan was in the harm’s way. “In this confrontation, the poor people are the ultimate sufferers,” he said.
Shah said he had asked Premier Nawaz in a recent meeting to counter PTI’s move politically. “No doubt, the PTI wants to topple the government but it’ll not succeed in its bid to take over through such means, therefore, the only option is negotiation to settle all disputes,” he said. “We have fought three wars with our archenemy India but at the end of each war we came on the negotiating table.”
Shah was not much convinced with an explanation given by a PML-N lawmaker from Faisalabad, MNA Rajab Ali Baloch, who said that Faisalabad was a stronghold of the PML-N as 11 MNAs and 20 MPAs of the party belonged to the district, therefore, clashes were obvious.
Rajab Ali said that of nine points, the tragic incident occurred at one point that too when PTI workers shouted slogans against the PML-N leadership. He alleged that PTI workers barged into educational institutions and forcibly shut them down.
The Faisalabad incident marred the debate on the internally displaced persons (IDPs) from tribal regions. After almost six months of the military operation in North Waziristan Agency, the lower house on Monday asked the government to consider the IDPs issue its top priority.
The Q&A session was suspended to debate the sufferings of the IDPs.
Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao proposed formation of a parliamentary panel to oversee the ‘country’s most sensitive issue’. The proposal was endorsed by Ghazi Gulab Jamal, a lawmaker from Orakzai Agency, who asked the government to form such a body immediately.
Shahbuddin Khan, the ruling party’s MNA from Bajaur Agency, said the house might convince the prime minister, the opposition leader and other national leaders to visit the IDPs as this would send a positive signal to these people.
The disgruntled PTI leader, Gulzar Ahmad, said steps should be taken for safe repatriation of the IDPs to their native areas. He said the government’s decision to not seek help from the international community for the IDPs was a mistake.
The house was prorogued a day before its schedule as the speaker was facing court proceedings for alleged rigging in his constituency NA-122.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
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Let’s assume PTI and its million supporters are wrong. If you are head of the country and see that day by day public supporting Imran Khan is increasing and he is having historical Jalsas where thousands are attending as they agree with Imran there was rigging. What would you do? I as a Pakistani PM would immdiately look into concern of those thosands of people as they are Paksitanis as well. Within a week I will open up ballot boxes. I would have 2/3 majority so any amendment from parliment would be done in 2 days, within a week the ballot boxes open, hundreds of thousands PTI supporters (Pakistanis) convinced and in fact will join PMLN. Problem solved. But why is Nawaz not doing this? Was that not priority as whole country is being affected? If he still does not and PMLN requesting Tribunal not to open ballots of NA 122 indicates alot. I can assure you that 90% Pakistanis support PTI in Europe/UK/USA/Canada/Australia. There must be a reason because they are not stupid and 99% Paksitanis overseas believe that there was massice rigging.
@Shuaib: Brother Shuaib, you write English very well and therefore I assume that you would understand what I mean as you are educated.
Let's assume PTI and its million supporters are wrong. If you are head of the country and see that day by day public supporting Imran Khan is increasing and he is having historical Jalsas where thousands are attending as they agree with Imran there was rigging. What would you do?
I as a Pakistani PM would immdiately look into concern of those thosands of people as they are Paksitanis as well. Within a week I will open up ballot boxes. I would have 2/3 majority so any amendment from parliment would be done in 2 days, within a week the ballot boxes open, hundreds of thousands PTI supporters (Pakistanis) convinced and in fact will join PMLN. Problem solved.
But why is Nawaz not doing this? Was that not priority as whole country is being affected? If he still does not and PMLN requesting Tribunal not to open baloots of NA 122 indicates alot. I can assure you that 90% Pakistanis support PTI in Europe/UK/USA/Canada/Australia. There must be a reason because they are not stupid and 99% Paksitanis overseas believe that there was massice rigging.
Nobody needs advice from you Mr. Clerk! You and your masters better be ready to pack your bags and catch flights for Dubai, UK etc.
@Shuaib: Noon is investigating elections that's the first I have heard about it no mention by Marvi to Ishaq Dar Pervez Rashid Did this info descend in your head from heaven
Says a nobody called blithe,while being armed with a keyboard and an internet connection,unfortunately.
Wise word but khan masters doesn't need a peacful settlement. They are looking for blood
I hope he has some words of advice on how to become a billionaire from a meter reader.A true rags to riches story!
PPP is history. They have no role in Punjab or KP. PPP should concentrate around Larkana. PPP is almost non-existent in urban Sindh.
We have to follow the Chinese principle of not negotiating with terrorists . There is no point talking to Imran Niazi and his ilk
The media is not calling a spade a spade. That is the problem.
Imran Khan is a deciever, liar and charlatan. Unless the media does not make things equal and call out Imran Khan where he is wrong things will not change. Be fair and criticize Imran's POLICIES and ACTIONS NOT HIS RHETORIC.
WE ALL AGREE, CORRUPTION SHOULD DECREASE ETC. However, where Noon League and most people disagree with him is with: i) Systemic rigging. ii) His "proof" iii) His demands of JIT. PMLN is seeking a recount of the WHOLE election. PTI of 35. Noon league wants a focus on whether there has been systemic rigging whereas PTI wants to just focus on rigging.
The MEDIA IS ALSO to blame for the blood spilt. Your bias and non-neutral stance keeps the impasse going. Scrutinize EVERYONE or let this insanity continue but remember on the day of Judgement Allah will ask you about your honesty and sincerity with which reported.
It's a moment of great shame for both PML(N) and PTI when PPP advise them to behave.
Useless, pathetic, irrelevant nobody giving advice!