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.
