ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday that the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was divided into two groups after the JIT report had been made public a few days ago.
During his press conference Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the Prime Minister had no option but to step down after the damning JIT report had been submitted to the Supreme Court. “If the Prime Minister does not resign, then what will he when his disqualification takes place?” he asked.
He said that the recent report by the JIT had divided PML-N into two groups. Shah Mehmood said that federal ministers were also hesitating before defending the Prime Minister.
“All opposition parties agree on the demand that the Prime Minister should resign,” he said. “Opposition parties also have a consensus on calling a National Assembly session,” he added.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued by Central Media Department, Vice Chairman Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi has claimed that PML-N is in trouble and there is a difference of opinion inside the PML-N.
He stated that the premier was forced to summon a cabinet meeting to reassure members that ‘all is well’ following the Panama case JIT report. PMLN’s parliamentary meeting is being called in a bid to gag the aversion within party lines, he added. Furthermore he said that voices are being raised from within PMLN for PM’s resignation.
He said JIT report has jolted Pakistan’s politics and the ruling party is moving towards a confrontation with national institutions, Shah Mehmood Qureshi cautioned. He went on to add that all opposition parties on the same page on the matter of premier's resignation and a joint meeting of all the opposition parties will be held on Friday.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said he is in touch with all opposition parties, adding that the PTI and Pakistan Peoples Party have signed the application calling for a session of the National Assembly. He said he is also in touch with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League-Q and Jamaat-e- Islami. It shameful for a prime minister to remain in office once his own cabinet begins discussing his resignation, Vice Chairman PTI reiterated. He said a session of the Senate has been called at 4pm on July 17, the day the Supreme Court’s special bench will hold its next hearing in the Panama case.
PMLN’s rants about the so-called ‘conspiracy’ being hatched against them and CPEC are lamentable. He went on adding that how the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project might be affected by a regime change and pressed on PMLN to bring into open ‘the conspirators’. ‘It is pertinent to mention here that CPEC is not dependent on any government, it was initiated long before PMLN government and it will keep going’ he said.
Addressing media Secretary General Jahangir Tareen stated “PMLN lawyers’ objections on JIT report is a straw to the drowning PMLN. Pakistan ‘Tehreek e Insaf provided documented evidences o the Panama scandal and I do remember PMLN’s lawyers accredited our evidences as fake and falsified’, Jahangir Tareen stated. We presented documents with certified stamps that proved that Maryam Nawaz is the actual owner of London properties, he said. Lashing out at PMLN he stated that it has been proved after the rejection of Qatari letter that all money being used was of House Sharif’s which was laundered abroad.”
Jahangir Tareen said that if the prime minister does not resign, the democratic values will be compromised as Nawaz Sharif has lost the credibility to head the government. NNI