QUETTA: The chairman of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Mehmood Khan Achakzai has called upon parties in parliament to form a ‘democratic front” to counter anti-democratic forces holding sit-ins in Islamabad’s ‘red zone’.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, he said his party was not against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) or the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) but trying to resolve political issues by taking to the street was an unconstitutional, unlawful and undemocratic step.

Know more: Derailing democracy will harm federation, says Mehmood Achakzai

He urged Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri to respect the supremacy of parliament and assured them of his party’s support if a court endorsed their allegations that last year’s general elections had been rigged.

He said his PkMAP always supported political forces which stood by democracy, constitution and law and there could be no compromise on the basic principles.

Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri urged to respect supremacy of parliament

Mr Achakzai said intransigence in politics always created problems and cited the examples of the secession of what was once East Pakistan, execution of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and sending Nawaz Sharif into exile.

He said that Sufi Muhammad was sent to prison because he refused to accept the constitution, parliament and judiciary. Today, he added, Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri were challenging the authority of parliament and their supporters had been given free hand.

The PkMAP chairman said all national institutions, including the army and the ISI, should work within the parameters of constitution and must not interfere in each other’s domain. This is necessary for strengthening the constitutional system.

He supported Dr Qadri’s demand for an investigation into the June 27 killing of innocent people in Lahore’s Model Town.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2014