ISLAMABAD: The PPP announced on Wednesday that it would continue its support for the democratic system and parliament and wanted a “middle and a constitutional way out” of the current political impasse before the upcoming visit of the Chinese president to Pakistan.

Talking to reporters after a meeting of the party’s parliamentary group and senior leaders at the Zardari House, PPP’s Information Secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said a detailed and frank discussion was held on the political crisis which had engulfed the entire country for three weeks because of sit-ins in Islamabad.

The meeting was presided over the party’s Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari after his arrival here from Karachi earlier in the day.

Mr Kaira said Pakistan had special relations with China and, therefore, the party wanted to see an end to the standoff as early as possible before the two-day visit of the Chinese president scheduled for the middle of this month. He said Mr Zardari had praised the role the party had played since the beginning of the crisis.

Calls for finding a middle, constitutional way out

He criticised PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for his outburst against PPP’s founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Ahmed Shah and warned that such statements could spoil the atmosphere.

The PPP leader reminded Dr Qadri that it was because of the efforts by the late Bhutto that the country had a unanimous constitution.

Senator Farhatullah Babar, spokesman for the PPP co-chairman, said in a brief statement that the meeting had discussed the current situation and the participants “expressed their views candidly”.

The party resolved to continue its support for the democratic system and parliament, he said, adding that the PPP would strive to resolve the standoff through dialogue.

Sources in the party said that some legislators from Punjab had expressed concern over a general perception that the party was supporting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and because of which it was being seen as an ally of the ruling PML-N. They were of the opinion that while extending support to parliament and democracy, the party should avoid giving an impression that it was supporting the prime minister and his government.

According to the sources, over 50 MNAs and senators attended the meeting which lasted about two hours.

Mr Zardari briefed the meeting on efforts he had been making to resolve the crisis.

Senator Raza Rabbani drew the attention of the participants to the speech of Dr Tahirul Qadri in which he had held the PPP responsible for the 1971 East Pakistan tragedy and made some harsh remarks against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He said the party should take notice of the speech and respond to it in strongest possible mean.

Prominent among those who spoke at the meeting included Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, Khurshid Ahmed Shah, PPP’s Punjab president Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, former interior minister Rehman Malik and former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Nadeem Afzal Chan.

Former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, deputy chairman of Senate Sabir Baloch, former NA speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, former information minister Sherry Rehman, Akhunzada Chatan and deputy political secretary to the co-chairman Fauzia Habib also attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2014