ISLAMABAD: The government and the opposition on Thursday sank their differences to “attain peace” by devising a joint strategy to handle the sensitive law and order situation which has emerged in the country after the acquittal of Aasia Bibi in a nine-year-old blasphemy case and subsequent country-wide protest led by a religio-political group — Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) — against the Supreme Court verdict.

Soon after the adjournment of the National Assembly session, a delegation of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) went to the chamber of the Leader of Opposition and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Shahbaz Sharif where Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was also present.

The PTI delegation was led by Pervaiz Khattak, the head of the government committee formed to take the opposition parties into confidence over the current crisis.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the PTI had exploited religious sentiments in the past but the PML-N would not pay it back in the same coin. However, he added, the PML-N would not support use of force against the protesters.

PTI team calls on Shahbaz, Bilawal to discuss post-verdict situation; opposition advises govt to avoid confrontation with protesters

He advised the government to exercise restraint and tolerance and employ diplomacy in dealing with the issue. But, at the same time, Mr Sharif spoke about the supremacy of law and the Constitution.

Earlier, during the assembly session, leaders from the two main opposition parties — the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz — urged the government to tackle the law and order situation through reconciliation and avoid confrontation with the protesters who are demanding restoration of death sentence for the Christian woman. The opposition leaders feared that the way of confrontation could lead to bloodshed.

Committee formed

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan formed a committee comprising Minister of State for Interior Sheryar Afridi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to handle the situation.

The two main opposition parties have nominated their focal persons to have a close liaison with the government — Naveed Qamar from the PPP and former NA speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq from the PML-N.

Later, at a press conference, the information minister gave details of the government-opposition meeting and termed it a good example to resolve national issues.

He said all institutions and the opposition were backing the strategy declared by the prime minister in his address to the nation on Wednesday.

“The PM’s stance is the stance of the entire state, not only the government, because all institutions and opposition are standing by it,” he added.

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, spokesman for Mr Bhutto-Zardari, said the PPP leadership had met the government delegation to support the government in the prevailing sensitive situation.

However, Mr Khokhar ruled out the possibility that the government-opposition tense relations would turn cordial after the meeting. “We met over the specific issue and will continue to play the part of constructive opposition,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, the spokesman said that Mr Bhutto-Zardari was of the view that all institutions and the opposition should work together for a better future of the country and to handle the current law and order situation.

Mr Khokhar said the PPP chairman had hailed the Supreme Court decision to acquit Aasia Bibi.

He said the government delegation comprised Pervaiz Khattak, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Shireen Mazari and Ali Muhammad Khan.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2018