ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has rejected the ultimatum given by the opposition Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down by Jan 31, terming the demand “undemocratic, immoral and unconstitutional”.

“I want to convey the PTI’s stance in categorical terms and without wasting time to the PDM leadership that we reject your ultimatum. You say the prime minister should resign by Jan 31. We are categorically saying the prime minister of Pakistan will not step down. You say assemblies should be dissolved. The prime minister has said and I am repeating [his words] that assemblies will not be dissolved. The deadline stands rejected,” declared Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is also senior vice chairman of the PTI, while speaking at a news conference here on Tuesday.

Accusing the PDM leaders of preferring their personal matters over national issues, Mr Qureshi also dared the opposition to submit its lawmakers’ resignations to the speakers of the respective assemblies on Dec 31 instead of handing them over to their own leadership.

Talking to reporters after presiding over a meeting of the opposition members at Jati Umra on Monday, PDM president Maulana Fazlur Rehman had set Jan 31, 2021 as the deadline for the prime minister to resign from the office or be ready to face a long march.

Qureshi dares opposition lawmakers to submit their resignations to the speakers

“In case the government does not step down, the date for the long march will be announced on Feb 1. We ask the people of Pakistan to start preparations for the long march from today,” the PDM chief had stated.

In reply to a question, Maulana Fazl said the opposition could hold talks [with the powers that be] only “if assemblies are dissolved and fresh elections called”.

The PDM had already directed opposition lawmakers to hand over their resignations to the heads of their respective parties which could be used at the time of the long march.

Mr Qureshi ridiculed the PDM for its decision to collect resignations from the legislators and termed it a “time gaining activity”, claiming that there were differences within the PDM parties over the resignation issue.

“If you have consensus on resignations and are serious then on the 31st your resignations should reach the speaker and not the leadership of your parties. Submitting resignations to leadership is just for show,” said the foreign minister.

Similarly, he added, there was no unity in the PDM over the issue of long march.

“Why am I saying this? Because they said [in their presser] that a meeting of the PDM will be called on Feb 1 and then the decision will be taken after discussion and a date will be given,” he added.

Rejecting the PDM’s demand for the prime minister’s resignation, Mr Qureshi said Imran Khan had the “mandate of the people” and the PTI had received 17 million votes in the 2018 elections.

“You say you are out for democratic values and supremacy of the Constitution — as a democratic movement, how can you make an undemocratic and unconstitutional demand? He [the prime minister] has a mandate; should he resign just because it was your wish?” the minister asked.

He recalled that both the PPP and PML-N governments had completed their five-year terms after the 2008 and 2013 elections despite questions on their transparency. Then, he said, why the PTI should not complete its term.

“Your demand for fresh elections is undemocratic, unconstitutional and immoral,” he said, wondering how there could be a political stability in the country if they continued this practice.

The foreign minister also expressed his surprise over the PDM’s condition for holding talks and termed them unacceptable. “They say that dialogue can be held but after dissolution of the assemblies and holding fresh elections. Why would anyone talk to you if you want conditional talks? This is not acceptable to us. Ultimatums and threats will not work,” he declared.

Mr Qureshi also criticised Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for stating that the time for talks had passed and termed it an outcome of the PPP chairman’s political inexperience.

“Bilawal says time for talks is over. I say beta [son] this is inexperience. You need time to learn. In politics, talks happen, doors cannot be closed and if you want to learn, then learn from your grandfather,” he said and then gave the example as to how former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto politically engaged the then agitating opposition Pakistan National Alliance in the 1970s.

Mr Qureshi said they were political and open-minded people and were ready to hold talks while remaining within the constitutional limits and system.

He further said there were two factions in the PML-N — one agreed with PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif and the other supported PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz. Similarly, he said Mr Bhutto-Zardari did not have “decision-making” powers and the authority was still being used by former president Asif Zardari. He said those in the inner circle of the PPP knew this fact.

Mr Qureshi said Maryam Nawaz was making efforts to replace Shehbaz Sharif and in the PPP, Mr Bhutto-Zardari was trying to show workers that he made decisions, and not Asif Zardari. He predicted that both the “prime ministers-in-waiting” would not tolerate each other in the near future.

The minister also termed the Dec 13 Lahore rally a failure and said the people had rejected the opposition’s narrative by showing their indifference.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2020