ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah on Friday pledged the opposition’s continued support to the government saying the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) must clarify the details of the army chief’s meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri.
Drawing attention to the events of late Thursday and early Friday which began to give the impression that Nawaz Sharif had relinquished control of the situation, Shah said some Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers even cried over the uncertainty that developed as a result.
"The impression that began to form since late Thursday has been very alarming and although the interior minister has clarified the government's point of view, I would like to say that the ISPR owes the people of this country a clarification that those who were playing this game of terror in the name of democracy had called them to mediate," Shah told the House.
Shah, who thundered his support for the government during the session, was emphatic that the ISPR should clarify if and why the PTI and PAT had requested a meeting with the army chief, adding that neither of these parties wanted the supremacy of the Constitution and the Parliament.
“We are democrats and have rendered a series of sacrifices for democracy,” he said, adding that supporters of PTI and PAT may burn down Parliament and the capital if they must.
He said the opposition firmly stood by the recently adopted resolution calling to safeguard the Parliament and democracy from disruptive forces.
Nawaz lauds Shah, says govt did not request army mediation
After the opposition leader concluded his address in Parliament, Nawaz came to the floor of the House and said it was unthinkable that he would make a U-turn upon his stance after going through countless trials and tribulations for democracy.
His address to the House began with a lauding of Khurshid Shah's speech who said the PPP leader’s words had perfectly represented his own views.
Explaining what transpired that led to the army chief's meeting with Imran and Qadri, Nawaz said it so happened that I was in a meeting when Nisar got a call requesting if General Raheel could meet with Imran and Qadri to which I said they have requested the meeting and if General Raheel wants to meet them, he should go ahead.
Nawaz emphasised that although governments came and go, he had pledged to Benazir Bhutto that both parties would struggle to strengthen democracy, Parliament and rule of law in the country.
He said he could sacrifice governments but not his principles and added that Nisar had fully explained that it was unimaginable that the government would approach the army to get into a mediating role.
He said the army may have spoken to Imran and Qadri because the army has been deployed in the capital under Article 245 and has been given the duty to protect a number of national installations.
