LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party has predicted the Islamabad sit-in of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf too will be wound up like that of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek.

PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday announced end to his dharna (sit-in) in Islamabad, saying the party would be holding rallies across the country in coming days.

“The PTI (sit-in) will meet the same fate as that of PAT because these tactics failed to force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign,” PPP Punjab secretary general Tanvir Ashraf Kaira said here on Wednesday.

He said the ‘sit-ins politics’ had proved an exercise in futility.

Mr Kaira advised the protesting parties to use the form of parliament for resolution of the issues of national importance instead of resorting to sit-ins.

“The protesting leaders’ disdain for the mother of all institutions (parliament) is unforgivable,” he said.

He said the PPP had also raised voice against rigging in the last year’s elections but accepted the results for the sake of democracy. The PPP wanted continuation of the political process in the largest interest of the country, he added.

Mr Kaira said the PPP in the present political system would make qualitative contribution to ensuring continuity of democratic system in the country. “PPP’s suggestion to the government to convene the joint session of the parliament turned the table in favour of democracy,” he added.

He made it clear that the PPP would continue to play the role of an effective opposition doing issues-based politics and would not allow the derailment of the democratic dispensation through the politics of sit-ins.

Meanwhile, the PPP Lahore paid tribute to the late Begum Nusrat Bhutto in connection with her death anniversary.

PPP Lahore held dua (prayers) at the PPP secretariat for Ms Bhutto. It lauded the sacrifices she rendered for the party.

PPP Lahore president Samina Ghurki, Faisal Mir, Zahid Zulifqar and Rana Ashar Nisar were among the participants.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2014