ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan for his call to protest against the alleged rigging in last year’s general election.
Talking to ‘The News’ on Saturday, PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar said Imran Khan’s move to resort to protest the alleged rigging was incomprehensible after one year of the election.
The PPP leader said that it was the party’s formal stance that it will not become part of any protest rallies. “Though the PPP also has grievances about the May 11 results but despite its reservation on the results we accepted the May 11 elections,” he added.
According to sources, the PPP has decided to keep itself aloof from the PTI’s May 11 protest call saying that it will not become part of ‘protest politics’ that are aimed at derailing the democratic system.
According to sources, the PPP leaders held in-depth discussions on the protest politics of the PTI and ongoing rallies in the country aimed at destabilising the elected government. “Though we have serious reservations on the results of the election and rigging and even compiled a white paper in this regard that does not mean that we become a tool to destabilise the democratic set-up,” a senior PPP leader said.
Sources said the PPP has decided to continue to play its role as an active opposition in both houses of parliament rather than becoming a tool of others. “Parliament is a forum where the opposition can check any government move and make it accountable rather than adopting protest politics that may put the democratic system in danger,” the PPP leader said.
Opposition leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah in a press talk a few days back had already indicated that those who were used to bring out sponsored rallies in the past are now active and it is not a good omen for the country. These rallies are being sponsored and not being taken out on their own as those who are behind these rallies have their own agenda. However, he said the PPP will not become part of it.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Awami National Party (ANP) leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that PTI chief Imran Khan should not indulge in the politics of opportunism.
He said according to Imran Khan, the sacked ministers belonging to the Sherpao group were corrupt while the ones from the PTI showed performance that wasn’t up to the mark.
INP adds from Lahore: PML-N leader and Punjab Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri have planned to launch an agitation movement on ‘someone’s’ directives.
Talking to newsmen here, he claimed that the people of the country fully support democracy and the PML-N-led federal government and the Imran-Qadri May 11 show will flop. He said Imran Khan was raising a hue and cry of rigging in the general elections and if he has any proof to support these allegations, he should bring it to light. He said that the democracy has no threats from anyone and the incumbent government will definitely complete its constitutional term.
He said protest is a democratic right of everyone and assured that the government will not resort to the arrest of leaders and activists to sabotage the May 11 agitation. He said Imran Khan was criticising the government only instead of improving the performance of the KP provincial government. He said the people are aware of the reality about Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri, and hoped that their joint venture will turn out to be a flop show like the previous ones.
The provincial law minister alleged that both are acting at the behest of ‘someone’ as they wanted to cause a dent to democracy.
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