ISLAMABAD, July 5: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Wednesday termed the opposition’s threat to resign from assemblies political gimmickry and said it was an attempt to hoodwink the people as it had no solid programme to address their problems.

Describing the threat as a disruptive tactic to destabilise the democratic system, the interior minister said instead of preparing for the next general elections, the opposition parties were wasting time on what he termed was an undemocratic plan to launch a movement against the government.

The opposition parties, he said, were trying to mislead the nation through hollow slogans and their so-called charter of democracy, adding that the people were politically aware and supported the government’s policies aimed at the country’s development.

He said that the ‘resignation drama’ would fizzle out without achieving anything like other tactics adopted by them in the past.

Mr Sherpao said that the opposition parties were not playing their due role for which they got votes from people.

The minister claimed that the next general elections would decide the fate of the exiled opposition leaders, adding that they were only interested in personal aggrandisement.

He said that the disunity and confusion in the ranks of the opposition parties demonstrated their weakness and failure to come up with a tangible programme for the people’s welfare.

Highlighting government’s policies, Mr Sherpao said the country had achieved economic and political stability as a result of the policies of President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

“For the first in the country’s history, the parliament and provincial assemblies will complete their full terms,” he pointed out.

He said the government had allocated an unprecedented amount for the public sector development programme, which would ensure a better life for the people. — APP