LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has renewed its contacts with other opposition parties to win their support for its anti-government campaign as it intends to go ahead with its planned Raiwind march later this month.

The party is also planning to hold simultaneous demonstrations across the country in October to put “maximum pressure” on the PML-N government to accept its demands about investigations into the Panama Papers, which revealed that the children of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif owned offshore companies.

The Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) have both advised PTI chief Imran Khan to take all opposition parties on board if he wants to achieve the “common goal” of making Mr Sharif face accountability on the matter.

The PTI will hold a meeting of its core committee on Sunday to finalise the date and venue of the protest after considering various proposals forwarded by the other opposition parties. Earlier, the party had set Sept 24 as the date for the Raiwind march.

Party also planning to hold protests across country in October

“We have stepped up contacts with the opposition parties on our ‘anti-corruption movement’ as we want to take them on board on the issue of formation of an independent judicial commission to investigate the prime minister and his family for their off-shore holdings revealed by the Panama Papers,” PTI Secretary General Jehangir Tareen told Dawn on Thursday.

“Come what may, the PTI will press ahead with its Raiwind protest as it will be a symbolic one.... The area has the palatial residence of the premier,” he said while trying to dispel the impression that opposition parties were opposing the holding of a demonstration in the entire Raiwind area.

“Actually, the opposition parties have expressed concerns about any demonstration just outside the Jati Umra residence of Nawaz Sharif. Because we have categorically announced that we are not going there this issue is over. Now it is the PML-N which is making negative propaganda and inciting its workers to attack PTI rally in Raiwind,” Mr Tareen said.

The PTI, he said, was in no mood to reduce pressure on the matter and would continue holding protests even after a demonstration in Raiwind. “After the Raiwind rally, we will hold simultaneous protest demonstrations across the country in October. We will continue building strong pressure on the premier to make sure he does not get away without a probe,” he added.

Qadri’s party

Answering a question about the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) of Dr Tahirul Qadri, the PTI secretary general said: “When the PTI and PAT move jointly our opponents say the establishment brings both parties on one platform. When they protest separately, the PML-N and company say we have developed differences.”

Mr Qadri has distanced himself from the PTI’s Raiwind march, saying the emotions of his workers are running high because of the killing of 14 of them by Punjab police two years ago. In the interest of peace in the area he has opted out of the march, he says.

Sardar Latif Khosa, the PPP secretary general, said the opposition was united when it came to the Sharifs’ accountability.

“We are with the PTI on its anti-corruption movement. We participated in its Lahore rally in which a strong message was given that the opposition was on the same page to expose Nawaz Sharif’s corruption.

“However, regarding the Raiwind protest PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will decide whether or not the party will take part in it,” he said.

Mr Khosa said the PPP was optimistic that the Election Commission of Pakistan would do justice with its reference against Mr Sharif and his other family members — Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, MNA Hamza Shahbaz and the premier’s son-in-law, retired Capt Safdar — for allegedly concealing their assets. The PPP has sought their disqualification as legislators.

“It is the ECP’s responsibility not to let the dishonest and untrustworthy remain members of the parliament,” he said, adding that the PPP could take to the streets if it did not get justice.

“The next hearing of our reference in ECP is on Sept 28. If our plea is not heard the party leadership will finalise the future course of action.

“We may launch a joint or separate protest campaign over Panamagate next month. Fate of Nawaz Sharif will be decided in October as the premier will be forced to present himself before an independent judicial commission for investigations,” he said.

Mr Khosa was of the opinion that a new accountability bill tabled in the National Assembly would not help the premier get away “with corruption”.

“I have spoken to some PTI leaders and asked them to stop Imran Khan from taking a solo flight if he wants to achieve the objectives of the anti-corruption movement,” PML-Q Senator Kamil Ali Agha told Dawn.

He said that Mr Khan should realise that all alone the PTI would not be able to force the premier to present himself for accountability. “Imran Khan should not only consult all opposition parties but also his own leaders, especially about the Raiwind march.

“If all the main opposition parties are gathered on one platform on Panama leaks the PML-N government will not find any escape,” he said.

Meanwhile, as the Jamaat-i-Islami has launched its own campaign against corruption it apparently has no plans to join the PTI’s movement. “People in the government and opposition have been exposed in the wake of the Panama leaks. We want a judicial commission to probe the matter,” Jamaat’s secretary general Liaqat Baloch told Dawn.

In response to a question, Mr Baloch said that although the PTI did not contact it in this regard, his party would continue to put pressure on the government separately. “Our next anti-corruption rally will be held in Faisalabad on Sept 27,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2016