Summary PTI and PAT leaders wants to invite a bloodbath at Constitution Avenue, says Chaudhry Nisar.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while speaking during a National Assembly session in Islamabad on Friday said that the government did not involve Pakistan Army to mediate between the government and protesters.
Addressing the National Assembly on Friday in Islamabad, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that involving army in political matters is unconstitutional but it was Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf(PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek(PAT)’s decision to involve the army as a mediator to solve the political crisis. From 1971 till date, the Pakistan Army has played a major role in solving political issues facing the country, said Nisar. He said that PTI and PAT leaders can’t force Prime Minister to resign using Model Town tragedy as an artifice.
We have been negotiating with PTI and PAT and we will have talks with their leadership today as well, urged Nisar. The Interior Minister said that negotiations will be based on the resolution passed in the national assembly. The government will not back off from negotiations, he added. We had suggested forming a council of opposition parties but the protest leaders wanted to involve the army, said Nisar. Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek(PAT)’s sit-ins outside the parliament house for past two weeks, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Khan while speaking in National Assembly session said that some political forces are inviting a bloodbath at the Constitution Avenue.
Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri have said that they accept the role of army as the final arbitrator and guarantor in the current political impasse, said Nisar.
Government doesn’t want to put army to any test, said Chaudhry Nisar. The Interior Minister claimed that in yesterday’s meeting between Imran Khan, Tahirul Qadri and the Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif, the Army Chief did not confess of their desire of mediation between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the protestors. Neither the government nor army offered to mediate, he added. He stressed that Pakistan Army doesn’t belong to any political party but Pakistan. The protestors insisted on involving the army instead of the judiciary, said Nisar. Talks between the government and protestors could have achieved a breakthrough but Tahirul Qadri announced holding a shroud that either he will wear a kafan or Nawaz Sharif would resign, said Nisar. He told that all the political parties are striving to safeguard democracy. Referring to Tahirul Qadri’s PAT, Nisar remarked that his party has students and daily wage workers as its supporter. Those who have been claiming to gather 10 lakhs only have 10,000 with them today, he added.
Nisar said that Pakistan is passing through a critical stage and the economic condition is deteriorating. Two presidents have postponed their official visits to Pakistan because of the ongoing crisis, he claimed. Imran Khan nominated the name of chief election commissioner, said Nisar.
He expressed in the National Assembly session that the government wants to tackle the political crisis amicably. If the army had opened fire on the crowd, a lot of fingers would have been raised, said Nisar. Talking about the orders given by Supreme Court regarding the extra-constitutional case he said that all the orders of the Supreme Court must be followed. He informed the assembly members that 5 out of 6 demands by PTI and PAT have been accepted by the government. The government only did not accept the demand of prime minister’s resignation, he stressed.
If the judicial commission approves rigging in general elections, Prime Minister has said that he would step down from his office, said Nisar. He said that Pakistan has passed through some very critical phases in the past; during Musharraf’s period Pakistan Muslim League-N clearly outlined their stance. Talking about the Model Town tragedy case, he said that filing an FIR alone can’t decide the case verdict.
He said that the protestors are spreading anarchy in the country. 2500 women are sitting outside the parliament with their children but the protest leaders want to meet their agendas using women as a shield. They are seeking the blood of their own followers for the sake of politics, argued Nisar. There is no other way than abiding by the rule of law, constitution and democracy, said Nisar.
Yesterday (Thursday), Imran Khan issued a public ultimatum pertaining to the Prime Minister’s resignation to the federal government until afternoon tomorrow (Friday), after meeting with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chair Imran Khan told his followers that either they would be celebrating independence tomorrow (Friday) or if the demand for Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s resignation is not met then he would announce future course of action.
After the conclusion of the arbitration process, while addressing his followers Khan said that he has told the COAS, PM’s resignation is top priority, rest of the demands have been accepted. He added that his struggle aided by ‘dharnas’ would continue if incase the PM does not resign.
Prior to this address when Khan met COAS, it was decided that a judicial commission would be formed, and the Pakistan Army would be the guarantor of this deal between Khan and the government. Khan added that the PM’s resignation is essential otherwise; the investigation of the alleged election rigging cannot be transparent.
