Amidst unprovoked firing at LoC by the Indian army and in the backdrop of latest terrorists attacks at Airbase in Quetta, the country is again in the grip of political uncertainty. The PAT Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri has already made it clear to the ruling parties that it must resign in the light of orders issued by a lower court saying that FIR be lodged against the nominated persons in Model Town incident. Dr Qadri does not favour holding of mid-term elections and keep pressing for constituting a national government.
The PTI chief Imran Khan has already told the rulers that there would be no talks until the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He is asking for mid-term polls. Despite huge gathering in the sit-ins organized by the PTI and PAT, not a single incident of violence took place. The credit goes to the PAT as well PTI leaders who kept telling their activists, supporters to demonstrate in letter and spirit that their protests would remain peaceful and they are out there to oust the government.
But by carefully watching the entire episode, it appeared that PAT chief does not favour mid-term elections and asking the judiciary to arrest the PM, CM Shahbaz Sharif and all those who have been nominated in the FIR. The PAT chief also sought the dissolution of assemblies. While PTI chief Imran Khan has claimed that the government days are numbered.
On the government side, the Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad and Governor Punjab Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar have been given the task to negotiate with Dr Tahirul Qadri in Islamabad while Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Sirajul Haq and leader of the opposition Syed Khursheed Shah are expected to meet PTI Chairman Imran Khan to persuade him to arrive at a middle ground.
There are reports that if the negotiations succeed, Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri would announce the end of their marches on Tuesday. But it is not an easy task as PAT chief has presented his demands. Chief Dr. Qadri has predicted that Nawaz Sharif government will be over with next few hours claiming that Nawaz Sharif has already left Prime Minister House for Lahore. PAT chief Sunday again made it clear that the PML-N government was the product of rigging and corruption and thus illegal and unconstitutional.
He has ruled out from stepping back from his demands by rejecting the holding of mid term polls. He is pressing for forming national government and accountability across the board.
Dr. Tahirul Qadri in his 10-points charter of demands argued that the prosperity of people lies only in the change of the current administrative system thus sending a message to the PML-N government that revolution against unconstitutional system is inevitable.
Jamaat Islami Amir, Sirajul Haq making all out efforts to resolve the political crises by holding talks with political and religious parties. But he got a setback due to decision made by the PPP co chairperson Asif Zardari.
In latest twist on the political arena, PPP co chairperson, ex President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Rehman Malik to contact with the political parties in order to resolve the confrontation. In simple words, Azif Ali Zardari has shut the door for his party leader Syed Khurshid Shah for playing any role in this regard.
PPP Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari has nominated Rehman Malik after reservations expressed by opposition parties about the role of Syed Khursheed Shah. Also there are reports that other senior leaders of the PPP were also unhappy with Khurshid Shah as he did not take them into confidence over the meeting he held in order to end the deadlock.
Now the political confrontation again reached at peak as the activists of PTI tried to enter into the Red Zone. Though with the intervention of PTI leadership, the activists stopped moving forward which could be turned ugly as government has already told both the protesting parties not to enter into Red Zone otherwise the government would have no option but to use force. The government as well both protesting party need to demonstrate tolerance otherwise any move to derail the democracy could harm the country.
Government has decided to hold talks with the PTI and PAT after failing to convince the protesting parties especially the PTI’s leadership to end sit-ins. There were also reports that PTI might quit the national as well pr0vincial assemblies but the CM KPK Pervaiz Khattak ruled out any such move. Concerned quarters and government need to take into account the allegations of corruption on their part and must take action against corrupt practice.
