ISLAMABAD: A multi-party conference (MPC) appealed to the government and the protesting parties on Monday to avoid confrontation and resume talks to end the political impasse.

The MPC held under the aegis of Jamaat-i-Islami agreed that no extra-constitutional action against democracy and supremacy of parliament would be accepted.

The conference was presided over by JI emir Sirajul Haq and attended by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah, Zahid Khan of the Awami National Party, Mir Hasil Bizenjo of the National Party, Usman Khan Tarkai of the Awami Jamhoori Ittehad Pakistan and Maulana Samiul Haq and Maulana Yousaf Shah of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Samiul Haq group).

Briefing reporters after the MPC, Sirajul Haq said the conference had advised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan to let the Supreme Court probe allegations of election rigging. “If it [court] holds that the polls were stolen, the prime minister will resign and elections will be held,” he said.

The Jamaat leader said it had been suggested that all parties in parliament could become guarantors of an agreement in this regard.

He urged all democratic parties to help resolve the crisis and strengthen democracy.

He said all participants agreed that the issue of alleged rigging should be addressed and those found responsible for it should be punished.

Mr Haq said there were flaws in the system which should be removed but the country must not be made a laughing stock in the world.

The conference condemned the attack on the Parliament House and taking over of the PTV centre by protesters and violence against media workers.

The JI chief said he had taken an initiative to find out a solution to the crisis and held meetings with Imran Khan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif after which seven rounds of talks between the government and PTI had taken place.

“It was on our request that the government removed containers and allowed the protesters to enter the red zone.

He said five of six major demands of the PTI had been accepted by the government but the demand for the prime minister’s resignation was not acceptable to it.

“We along with Pakistan Peoples Party tried to find out a middle way but in the meantime contacts with Rawalpindi [army leadership] started,” he said and added: “There is no harm in that but there must be some headway to resolution of the crisis.”

Published in Dawn, September 2nd , 2014