LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have reached a four-point accord under which they will jointly hold the planned Aug 14 march.

This was stated by PTI vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi after a meeting with PAT leaders here on Tuesday.

Both parties, he said, were against imposition of martial law and decided to keep the march peaceful to ensure that democracy was not derailed.

“Our struggle will be constitutional and free of violence”.

Rejecting allegations about foreign hands being behind PTI plans he said if the government had information about involvement of foreign forces it should expose them and tell the masses who was the author of the script which was being allegedly followed by his party.

Referring to the government’s charge of conspiracy against democracy, Mr Qureshi said the PTI had been demanding a probe into the election results, but to no avail. It was the PTI’s last resort to contact the masses, he added.

He said the government was spreading disinformation by saying that the PTI was trying to help former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf leave the country. He denied that his party had any such plan.

Responding to a question about use of “state violence” during the march, Mr Qureshi said the federal and the Punjab governments would be held responsible if the situation deteriorated, but “we are determined to remain peaceful throughout”.

Published in Dawn, Aug 13th, 2014