ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) continued to trade barbs on Wednesday over culpability for the change in the Khatm-i-Nubuwat declaration in the recently-passed election law, with both sides holding each other responsible for the situation.

In a press conference, PTI chief Imran Khan rejected the government claim that all political parties supported the change as they voted for the bill in both houses of parliament.

He alleged that the change had been made secretly and without any discussion at the committee or assembly-level. “In English, we say such an action is committed ‘by stealth’,” he said, adding that minutes of committee meetings were available and would show that the issue was never discussed with other parties.

But Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal rejected the PTI chief’s claims, saying that Sheikh Rashid and four PTI lawmakers were members of the electoral reforms committee and as per the record, they made no recommendations concerning the Khatm-i-Nubuwat declaration.

Ahsan Iqbal says consultations on caretaker set-up to begin soon; Imran Khan criticises IHC judge’s remarks about army’s role

He accused Mr Khan of “showing protesters the way” and “playing politics on a sensitive issue”.

“We need the support of the public, not a certificate from Imran Khan,” the minister remarked.

Besides, the PTI chief regretted the remarks of Islamabad High Court Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui about the role of the army, saying that the military had, in fact, saved the country from chaos and riots.

The PTI chief said that while those responsible for the controversy could be identified within three days, the government had sought a one month’s time for this purpose.

“The question to be answered now is who was responsible for this change? Did Zahid Hamid act alone or were other people involved?” he asked.

Mr Khan said the whole nation must be grateful to the army for delivering the country from a situation that could have spiralled out of control. He said the finality of Prophethood (peace be upon him) was a sensitive issue for the entire nation, adding that even his own party workers wanted to join the Faizabad sit-in.

“The whole nation should be grateful that the matter was wrapped up within two days,” he added.

He revealed that when the government used force against protesters, his party workers put pressure on him to join the protest.

The PTI chief also lashed out at Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal for his poor handling of the sit-in and decried the use of force against protesters.

He reiterated his call for early elections, saying that allowing the present government to continue would be detrimental to the country.

However, this demand was ridiculed by the interior minister. Speaking later at a press conference, Mr Iqbal said that revised electoral rolls would not be ready before April 2018, adding that elections would take place somewhere around Aug 2018.

He said nobody would accept elections held on the basis of the previous electoral rolls. Moreover, he said that after the 2017 census, seats in the National Assembly would be re-allocated on the basis of population. “Why does Imran Khan want to deprive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of seven seats?” he asked.

Mr Iqbal also said that consultations for the appointment of a caretaker set-up would start soon.

He also called on the opposition to play a constructive role in passing legislation related to electoral reforms, so that nobody could raise objections to the upcoming elections.

Although he evaded questions about the reasons for the failure of an operation against protesters from the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Ya Rasool Allah, he said that the issuance of a contempt of court notice to him had led to administrative confusion.

He said the protesters were equipped with tools that were not used in such campaigns, adding that it was unprecedented for police to face teargas shelling from the other side.

The minister recalled that while the court had directed them not to use firearms, the protesters were equipped with weapons. He also blamed the live coverage of the operation, saying that in response, rallies joined the sit-in from Rawalpindi, reinforcing their numbers.

He seemed to indirectly justify the army’s role in brokering a deal with protesters, saying that civil and military institutions always worked together in extraordinary situations.

However, he avoided a question about the DG Rangers’ cash distribution among the protesters, saying that he would refer the question to the military official.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2017