HYDERABAD: PPP central infor­ma­tion secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that in view of the present political situation, the four simple points presented by the PPP to the PML-N will only benefit the government.

The government should accept them instead of making the situation more explosive, he said while speaking to reporters at the residence of MNA Syed Naveed Qamar.

Mr Kaira advised PTI chairman Imran Khan to avoid harsh talk arguing that hurling of expletives always evoked an improper response. He said that he along with senior party leaders Syed Khurshid Shah and Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan met the government team comprising Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Mir Hasil Bizenjo to discuss the situation. He said acceptance of these four points would help defuse tension and normalise the situation.

Mr Kaira said that while the government was told to avoid highhandedness during the protest, the PPP was equally concerned about the planned lockdown of the federal capital “which does not look legal either”.

In reply to a question, he said that all institutions right from the judiciary to security establishment, as well as political parties, wanted implementation of the National Action Plan. he said the government claimed it was being implemented but practically the situation was different.

Mr Kaira said that the PPP never sided with the government in the previous sit-in. “We were supporting PTI’s demand for a probe into electoral rigging but the party’s chairman [Imran Khan] parted ways with us.”

This time, the PTI was having a solo flight again. It had convened a meeting of opposition parties where it was decided that legislation would be done on Panama Papers issue but the next morning the PTI parted company, he said.

The PPP leader expressed concern over reports that some elements, who were not part of political process, would participate in the Nov 2 lockdown. “This would be very unfortunate if happens,” he said.

Mr Kaira said that the PPP was reorganising its structure and that’s why its chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had hinted at a protest to be held on Dec 27. He said that when someone was going to launch a struggle, cadres are to be organised first.

Published in Dawn October 27th, 2016