ISLAMABAD: Veteran politicians on Saturday warned Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan against derailing the ongoing democratic system and suggested he use the platform of the parliament to fulfill his just demands.

The parliamentarians said that it was PTI’s constitutional right to demonstrate against the rigging in May 2013 elections but any campaign to derail democracy could provide a chance for the establishment to take over the political system.

PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said that the ongoing political situation is very critical as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is in the process of completing its tenure after the first democratic transition in the history of Pakistan.

“The government is involved in an operation against militants in FATA to restore peace in the country and is also facing challenges on its eastern and western borders,” he said.

“The PPP too has reservations on the elections results but the party leadership does not want to destabilise the present democratic setup for the sake of democracy in the country. The PML-N government cannot bear any kind of setbacks under the present circumstances,” Rabbani warned.

He suggested the government to engage the PTI leadership in a political dialogue to resolve the issue.

Rabbani also said the government must avoid using force on the PTI demonstration on August 14.

Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Shahi Syed said that his party leadership is in favor of electoral reforms without derailing the democratic system.

“The parliament is the right place to introduce electoral reforms, not D-Chowk,” he said.

Syed said: “I can arrange gathering of one million people in Karachi but it couldn’t be allowed that anyone may damage the mandate of 180 million people in this regard.”

The ANP leader said the PTI should use the platform of the parliament for the electoral reforms.

Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) Leader Dr Farooq Sattar said his party leadership had already requested Imran Khan to review the date of long march on August 14 as it the day of independence.

Sattar said that MQM always supported the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahir Ul Qadri’s demands about the electoral reforms.

“The MQM, however, will decide to be part of the long march after the PAT leadership finalises the program,” he added.

“The government is in difficult situation after announcement of long march by the PTI leadership. It would be difficult for the government to manage the situation in next few days,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch said that it is the democratic right of the PTI to hold protests but must not provide chance to any undemocratic forces to take over the government in this regard.

“I am hopeful that the long march of the PTI will not derail the democratic government,” the JI leader said.

Baloch said that the JI will not be part of the PTI long march.

The PTI leadership did not consult with the JI leadership regarding the long march as yet, he added.

PML Senator Kamil Ali Agha said that his leadership is in the process of taking a final decision regarding the long march.

He said that his party leadership is in favor of the electoral reforms.

The PTI demand regarding the mid-term election could be a better option to bring real democratic government in the country, he said.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazal (JUI-F) leader and former chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Akram Khan Durrani said that Khan should revise his decision of the long march in the present situation as the government is involved in military operation against militants in FATA.

He said that the JUI-F leadership believes that there were massive cases of rigging in the last elections in KPK but his party leadership did not announce any kind of long march to topple the provincial government of the PTI in this regard.

PML-N Secretary Information Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that Imran Khan should play the role of mature leader at a time when the government is fighting against the militants in tribal region.

Khan said that it was obvious from different surveys before the elections of May 2013 that the PML-N will be leading parliamentary party after the elections. The PTI leadership is reluctant to admit the results of the elections, he added.

He said that his party provided a chance to the PTI leadership to show its performance in the provincial government of the KP but it failed to perform.

“PML-N was in a position to set up its government in the KP along with its coalition partners,” he reminded.

“The state works under a constitution. The country cannot be run on the personal desires of a single political party,” the PML-N leader said.

The PML-N leader warned the PTI leadership that the government of any political party will not to be able to complete its tenure in future if Imran Khan did not give up his ongoing campaign against a democratic government.

Khan also confirmed that the government is involved in negotiations with the PTI leadership to resolve issues in the parliament.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Umar said that his party leadership was protesting against the rigging in the last elections.

“We have been demanding for the electoral reforms for last one year but the government did not take the demands of the PTI seriously,” he explained.

He said that it is the constitutional right of the PTI to protest peacefully.

The PTI leadership had already directed the PTI parliamentarians to ensure a massive gathering in Islamabad on August 14.

“The PTI leadership will not compromise on its demands,” he confirmed.