LAHORE: Major opposition parties have held the government responsible for ‘mishandling’ the Faizabad operation.

Asking Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to resign along with his cabinet for his failure to establish the writ of the state, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Monday demanded early elections to steer the country out of the current crisis.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) sought the formation of a national government. The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) advised the government to admit its failure, seek an apology from the nation and pay compensation for the losses.

The PTI also praised the army for its role in “amicably resolving the sit-in issue”.

PTI demands early polls, PML-Q formation of national government; JI asks govt to pay compensation for losses

PTI information secretary Shafqat Mahmood, spokesman Fawad Chaudhry and central leader Ejaz Chaudhry said the “puppet rulers” had played havoc with the nation for 22 days, though the matter could have been resolved in just a few hours.

Mr Mahmood said the government’s negligence had paralysed life across the country, adding that many precious lives could have been saved. The government could have saved the nation from uncalled for hassle, had it made the report of Raja Zafarul Haq-led committee public and punished those responsible for the crisis.

He accused the government of stealthily trying to change the Khatm-i-Nubuwat declaration and said it had neither given any notice to parliamentary committees nor held any debate on the matter.

Fawad Chaudhry said Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal must resign because the sit-in had taken place following the permission given by the interior ministry. He held the interior minister responsible for the death of a police officer and injuries to scores of FC personnel.

Calling for immediate implementation of the agreement signed with the sit-in leadership, Mr Chaudhry said ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his “cronies” had been accusing the army for 18 months, but finally invited it to resolve the crisis that was going out of hands.

JI emir Senator Sirajul Haq said the government was making a futile effort to hide its blunders by shifting responsibility of the Faizabad operation to the court.

Addressing the party’s central leaders at Mansoora on Monday, he said that had the law minister resigned earlier on the demand of the sit-in protesters and the public at large, ‘‘so many killings and heavy losses of property’’ could have been averted.

The JI chief made it clear that there could not be any compromise on Islam and the democratic system. He said his party stood by democracy, adding that if there was any threat to democracy, it would be from the negative attitude of the rulers themselves.

Mr Haq said the government had made no effort to talk to the sit-in leadership and make them understand in a positive manner. He said it had been proved once again that the use of force was not a solution to any problem.

He advised the government to avoid traditional delaying tactics and release all those arrested in connection with the sit-in and protest. He said the country’s democratic system had been derailed in the past because of wrong decisions of the rulers.

Mr Haq said that an effective accountability system was essential for a true democracy, adding that instead of placing hurdles in the way of accountability or considering themselves above accountability, the rulers should allow the [accountability] institutions to work freely.

PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Pervaiz Elahi said the army had foiled Nawaz Sharif’s plan for anarchy in the country by pitting the people against it.

“The puppet government in the name of establishing the writ of the state wanted to involve the army in the operation against the protesters. Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa wisely kept the army out of this sensitive dispute,” they said in a joint statement. The Chaudhry brothers said that since the government had completely failed to deliver on all fronts, the formation of national government was the only solution to end the current crisis.

“Immediate elections are no solution to the problem as it will further increase tension and pose threat to the national security. The national government will first introduce reforms and then hold elections,” they said.

Zulqernain Tahir also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2017