Pakistan: PML-N is architect of political deadlock

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The Pakistan People’s Party on Monday said the inept PML-N government was the creator of the current political deadlock.

A high-level meeting of the PPP leaders was held at the residence of Punjab PPP President Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo. Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, former Punjab governor Latif Khosa, former federal ministers Makhdoom Shahabuddin and Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and former opposition leader in Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz were among those who participated in the meeting. The meeting discussed the political situation as emerging in the country, especially in the wake of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s civil disobedience and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s 48-hour deadline for dissolution of assemblies.

After the meeting, Gilani told reporters that sit-ins and protests would not lead to the fall of the government, but its mistakes would. He said that the PML-N government was responsible for the prevailing political situation. The former premier said the PPP is not with the government but with the state, constitution and democracy. He emphasised the importance of flexibility in politics and suggested that Imran Khan should talk about a package with the government to ensure next elections free, fair and transparent.

Gilani said that the whole system was in grave danger as the government failed to anticipate the gravity of the situation. He said that the PPP had been supporting the constitution, democracy and rule of law.

He said that the PML-N government had created the current political crisis. He, however, hoped the crisis would be resolved through dialogue, adding that nothing was impossible in politics. He also said that the crisis could be resolved through dialogue.

The former premier also underscored the importance of engaging PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri to reach a political solution of the deadlock.

Khosa flayed the Sharifs for appointing family members on 22 important slots. PPP’s unequivocal allegiance to state was the cornerstone of its politics, but that in no way showed that the PPP supported the PML-N government, he added.

Khosa also said the PML-N had always used courts for its objectives. He said the election tribunals are bound to decide cases in four months but despite a passage of 14 months, several cases are yet to be decided. Even if some decisions are given, the PML-N takes stay orders from the courts, he added.

Wattoo said that the government was the product of the rigged elections and therefore the question of its legitimacy had arisen as a consequence.

He added that the PPP was a responsible party whose leaders had sacrificed for democracy. He also said that the PPP did not believe in politics of vendetta and violence.

He condemned the Model Town carnage in which 14 PAT workers were killed and more than ninety injured by the Punjab Police.

He said that after the incident of Model Town, the Punjab government should have registered the case against the culprits voluntarily and the Punjab Chief Minister should have tendered resignation by confessing his inaptness and criminal negligence. He made it clear that the PPP was supporting democracy not excessive electricity load shedding, price hike, worsening law and order situation and unemployment.