Information Minister Fawad Choudhy has announced that the PTI will stage a “mammoth” public meeting at D-Chowk on March 27 that will change the politics of the country and end the game of the three major opposition parties. He promised to gather one million people in front of Parliament House where the National Assembly is to vote over the no-confidence move to dislodge PM Imran Khan. The announcement came after a meeting of the PTI’s core committee presided over by the PM. PTI leader Amir Mehmood Kiani observed that MNAs will have to pass through the rally of one million people before and after casting their votes. In a politically charged environment Kiyani’s words carry a grim message indicating that the legislators coming to support the no-confidence move could be jeered at, pushed around or harmed physically. This is unacceptable as it amounts to using force to dissuade lawmakers from exercising their constitutional right.
The ill-advised move has led the opposition to counter it with its own march on Islamabad with the aim of staging a sit-in which could continue till the completion of the voting process in the National Assembly. The government has paved the way for a confrontation that could spread to other parts of the country as well. The parties in power are supposed to enforce the law instead of encouraging mobs to influence parliamentary proceedings and threaten lawmakers. This would strengthen the view that the PM has decided to bring down the entire system if he is removed through a legitimate no-confidence move.
According to the PDM, it has given a call to the public to gather in Islamabad to express solidarity with Parliament, democracy and the Constitution. There is a need to stop the confrontation that could lead to violence. The government has yet to confirm the dates of summoning the National Assembly session and of voting on no-confidence motion. This can prolong the crisis. The way out is to immediately summon the National Assembly session and put the resolution to vote in accordance with the Constitution.
