ISLAMABAD, May 29: The acting president of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, on Thursday condemned the PML (Quaid-i-Azam) government for using police force against the opposition provincial assembly members in Lahore and said the “days of the government are numbered.”

Talking to newsmen at the residence of former first lady Kulsoom Nawaz, the PML-N leader expressed the fear that the government might adopt similar tactics in dealing with the opposition during the National Assembly session.

He said the government wanted to present the budget after barring several opposition leaders from attending the NA session.

He said all the opposition parties were united and they would expose “the real face of the government.”

Mr Hashmi said the government had adopted such measures in desperation as it had failed to resolve basic problems of the people. He said the government would “have to pay the price” for its action in Lahore.

Questioning the government’s sincerity in the talks with the opposition on the issue of the Legal Framework Order, he asked why Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was not calling a meeting of party heads after the 11-member committee had submitted its recommendations.

About reported secret contacts of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders with the government, Mr Hashmi said the MMA had every right to present its point of view at any forum.

However, there was an understanding that the MMA leaders would inform the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy leadership before making any final decision, he said. He expressed the hope that the MMA leaders would not compromise on principles as they were answerable to the people of their constituencies.

Asked why PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif were not returning if they had been sent by force and not through a deal, he said both of them were willing to come to the country and play their role. If they had gone through a deal then why was the government not issuing passport to Nawaz Sharif, he asked.