Pressure on: Govt advised to handle 'Azadi March' crisis with care

Irfan Haider Published August 7, 2014

ISLAMABAD: In a veiled reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek's (PAT) upcoming protests, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Shah on Thursday warned the leadership of all political parties that their names would be "included in the list of dictators" in case they took any step against democracy.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was also present during the NA session, but did not get a chance to speak as Shah requested that the session be resumed tomorrow after the prayer break.

Commenting on the address of President Mamnoon Hussain to the joint session of the parliament on June 2, 2014, senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Shah said that all political parties believe in the supremacy of the parliament.

Shah said the situation was very dangerous, as discussions on the derailing of the democratic system within the next few days were becoming increasingly common.

He added that it was important that all the political parties played their role for the supremacy of the parliament and democracy in the country.

The opposition leader further said that “It was not easy to restore democracy in the country and it was only possible due to the sacrifices and the reconciliation policy of the previous government.”

He also said the government should adopt a reasonable political attitude in dealing with the prevailing political crisis surrounding the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) 'Azadi March'.

“Please don’t worry about the PTI long march as it is the constitutional right of any political party in the country,” he said while commenting on media reports that the government was involved in seizing of motorbikes as well as petrol pumps due to the fear of the PTI’s march on August 14.

PTI leader Javed Hashmi said that the government should try to handle the situation responsibly as the ongoing situation is highly critical.

Muttahida Qaumi Moverment (MQM) leader Farooq Sattar said efforts should be made to reduce tensions through a mature political attitude. He added that registration of cases against political leaders and workers should be avoided.

Awami Muslim League (AML) president Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed said that the government should not create problems for the workers of the political parties over fears of the upcoming long march.

He demanded that the Speaker of National Assembly should give a ruling against the decision to invoke Article 245 of the Constitution.

PTI Leader Ghulam Sarwar Khan said that the government should avoid seizing petrol pumps and vehicles of transporters.

Later, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said that the country was being ruled under a constitution. He further said that the government will not put any kind of restrictions on the basic right to freedom of speech in the country.

Ahmed questioned “why the PTI members took oath as members of the National Assembly if they don’t believe in the mandate of the ruling government?”

“If the PTI leadership doesn’t believe in the results of the elections, why did the party set up its government in the KPK province?” he asked.

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Ahmed

Aug 07, 2014 03:27pm

PMLN is in Panic mode & closing down petrol Pumps & seizing of motorbikes and trying to save their govt for falling on 14 august

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stoptyranny

Aug 07, 2014 03:27pm

Lesgo #teamkhan

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Imran Khalid Virk

Aug 07, 2014 03:57pm

Every patriotic Pakistani belives in supermacy of parliament and democratic process. But bitter reality is there is enough space available for non democratic forces to play their cards.

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abbas kd

Aug 07, 2014 04:11pm

I can not believe that Pakistani public seems to have so much free time on their hands, to follow these corrupt politicians who have already been rejected in elections not too long ago. Pakistani Public is being manipulated by these politician who themselves enjoy the luxury lifestyle of Western countries but want to make life even more miserable in Pakistan, for the government & for the public alike. Has Imran Khan & Tahir Qadri, seen any politician in UK or back here in Canada, behaving & disrupting the public life like they are doing back in Pakistan ? Don't they want to contribute some thing good to their own country & set an example for the public to be a Law abiding citizens rather than Law breaking. Enemies of Pakistan would be rejoicing seeing all these fiascoes.

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Pakistani

Aug 07, 2014 04:43pm

@abbas kd Spot on!

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nisar

Aug 07, 2014 04:59pm

@abbas kd In Western countries Ministers as well as President are subjected to law. In Pakistan it is opposite. The corrupt politicians consider themselves above law which is only enforced on poor. Look at model town and Faislabad scenarios. The change has to come for betterment of future generation of Pakistan by ridding of long serving dynasties even at the derailment of so called democracy.

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Syed Muhammad Ali

Aug 07, 2014 05:01pm

I hope everything will be in Peace.

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zafar

Aug 07, 2014 05:06pm

What do you expect from status quo. This is a new one from the existing order - if you rock our boat, you stand with the dictators. In case Khursheed Shah hasn't heard, PTI is the biggest political force of Pakistan, bar none. And patience of Pakistani public is running out. We have seen enough, and we don't want to see more of Zardaris, Bhuttos, Shareefs, Khwajas and what not. So figure out who the real dictators in this country are.

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NASAH (USA)

Aug 07, 2014 05:15pm

How government will 'behave' will depend a lot -- on how PIT an PAT will behave. I think presence of 245 will keep the "100,000" strong BIKER gangs peaceful. If no petrol is available next day in Pakistan do not blame the government.

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bheel

Aug 07, 2014 06:35pm

@zafar Patience of public has gone out or patience of power hungry army and its touts? And please note that we don't want any generals Zias and Mushoos and the likes either who kill their own people and beg for money from other countries, they are the ones who have destroyed pakistan....

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Gaz

Aug 07, 2014 06:52pm

Think about it people whose who support Sharif you are supporting a person who failed more than twenty years ago and yet you still support him.

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Amir

Aug 07, 2014 08:11pm

I don't know what will be the outcome of this million March, but it has brought a lot of fruits to media, and will bring more and more. ..... all news agencies ,enjoy the political temperatures........

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Faith

Aug 07, 2014 08:15pm

@Imran Khalid Virk What supermacy of parliament and democratic process ? you are talking about Im looking for these signs would you please explain. do we really have this ?

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Mustafa J.

Aug 07, 2014 08:23pm

I fail to understand what new benefits the 180 million Pakistanis will achieve out of "Azadee March". If the purpose is to replace the government and put Imran Khan and his party in power this means all future governments should be formed through the process of Azadee March and demonstrations and not the process of election. Is Pakistan is heading to be a Banana Republic?

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Sha

Aug 07, 2014 10:46pm

Abbas kd!! In UK and Canada elections are not won by stuffing ballot boxes with bogus votes and election complaints are investigated and verified within specidied time limits and justice is dispenced without favor or hinderance ... Ask yourself a question; what political leadership has been ruling pakistan for last 26 years and what have they done other than making themselves richer but public and country poorer.

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Mustafa J.

Aug 07, 2014 10:58pm

Azadee March, protests, demonstrations or even civil disobedience against government may be justified if the government is a foreign government such as British Government in former India. However such action against Government of Pakistan by Pakistanis themselves can not be justified. It amounts to rebellion and it warrants full force of Pakistani Laws to deal with such actions.

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fact

Aug 08, 2014 02:13am

Before 2013 election, ik had claimed that he had a force of 100000 active workers who will never let rigging happened. Now he doesn't talk abt that force. Don't yous see his face, it is always of a mocker who is successfully fool of large number of people just to fulful his very own lust of power. I don't understand how some people say that he is trying to bring power to the public level while the people he has on his both sides and at his back are greedy, and the hidden and exposed enemies of the country. He is nothing without these negative personalities. We should all remember that man is known by the company so carefully and closely look at the faces in both ik' s and qadri's company. I believe this will help change many people' minds.

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