- Joint session likely to take important decisions to enforce [writ of state]
- Fawad Ch warns of reaction no one ever imagined if party’s chief banned
ISLAMABAD: The ‘beleaguered’ PML-N-led government of PDM has convened a special session of both houses of the parliament on Wednesday to “take important decisions” to enforce [writ of the state] in the face of ever-rising popularity of PTI and defiance of its supports against government “acts to contain its chairman.”
The decision comes a day after couple of meetings of the country’s civilian and military high command took an extremely [unfavourable view] of the PTI’s ongoing protest movement wherein the military “agreed” with the government that elections to the national and provincial assemblies should be held simultaneously. During these [important] meetings, though the top leadership of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) failed to evolve a consensus on a proposal to ban Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) following the recent clashes between the PTI workers and police at Islamabad judicial complex and Zaman Park.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior vice president and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday warned that there would be a reaction “no one had ever imagined” if the party chief Imran Khan was [banned]….
On Monday, through its declaration, Shehbaz Sharif’s government, backed by the powerful military, indicated its willingness to violate the Constitution by disregarding the Supreme Court’s ruling, which mandates the holding of elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 90 days in accordance with the Constitution.
Meanwhile insiders in the PML-N, seeking anonymity, opposed any proposal to ban the PTI or its chairman, saying any such step would [only] aggravate the current political turmoil, adding that “it’s very obvious the PML-N is hijacked by [hawkish elements], having little or no knowledge of politics and democracy and hell-bent on stamping their authority both in the party and at the political spectrum of the country.”
Some second-tier leaders of PPP also voiced concerns over the implementation of any such proposal, saying they always preferred politics of principles and never favored [vendetta]. Referring to the workers-police clashes in Islamabad and Zaman Park, they termed any such act regrettable and condemnable, saying but “we should look at the reasons for any such act. The police did not try to handle the situation through peaceful means both in Islamabad and Lahore. And from the events unfolded in the aftermath, it appeared, (mighty people) have forced the police to deal with the protesters heavy handedly.”
They pointed out that politician should sit together to resolve their issues in a political manner “without the involvement of the third force.”
Khan had been prime minister from 2018 until 2022, when he was ousted from the office through a contentious no-confidence vote. Since then, he has been demanding fresh elections and has been holding protests across the country to press his demand.
His supporters have clashed with police several times over recent days as authorities try to force him to appear in court in connection with various “politically-motivated” cases brought against him.
The office of the speaker of parliament, in calling Wednesday’s joint session, did not give a reason but the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said the ruling coalition had called for parliament to “take important decisions” to ensure the writ of the state was enforced.
The APP, reporting on a meeting attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet, cited the participants as saying Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was not a political party but “rather a gang of militants”, and its “enmity against the state” could not be tolerated.
PM Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Khan’s demand for a new election, saying it would be held as per schedule later this year.
Parliament will meet in Islamabad as Khan’s supporters gather for his latest rally in Lahore scheduled to be held at historic Minar-e-Pakistan on Wednesday and which is be described by the PTI chairman as [referendum] to “ascertain where the nation stands and where the gang of thieves and their handlers stand.”
The clashes between Khan’s supporters and the security forces have brought a new round of political chaos to the country already in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.
Khan says the government and the military are trying to stop him from contesting the next election, scheduled for November. If convicted in a case, Khan could face disqualification from the polls.
Both the government and military deny this.
Police have arrested hundreds of Khan’s supporters in overnight raids in the past two days in response to the clashes.
‘Reaction no one imagined ever if Imran banned’
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior vice president and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday warned that there would be a reaction no one had ever imagined if the party chief Imran Khan was banned.
Taking to his twitter handle, the PTI stalwart said: “More than 500 PTI workers have been detained over the last two days. Raids are being conducted to arrest Tehreek-e-Insaf workers and leaders,” he continued. He warned the “oppressors” to get ready for final push as people’s patience is running out.
Fawad Ch called the press release issued after the meeting of ruling alliance “ridiculous” and said attempts are being made to violate the rights of the people by convening a joint session of the “dummy” parliament. He said a group has been imposed on the country after holding the constitution in abeyance. “The masses pay no heed to the “terrified group” that is ruling country by force”, he wrote.
‘Failed to evolve consensus on a proposal to ban PTI’
Earlier on Monday, the top leadership of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) on Monday failed to evolve consensus on a proposal to ban Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) following the recent clashes between the PTI workers and police at Islamabad judicial complex and Zaman Park.
The PDM leaders met here with Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif in the chair to discuss the recent political situation. PM Sharif had summoned a session of the heads of the coalition parties of the federal government to discuss the current political situation.
Sources privy to the meeting details told Pakistan Today that the PDM meeting discussed the proposal to ban the PTI in threadbare. However, the sources said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and another political party opposed the option to ban the PTI.
The sources said that the meeting was informed that the proposal was flawed as the courts would soon strike down the government decision to ban the PTI and Imran Khan’s party would emerge victorious out of the crisis.
During the meeting, the sources said, majority of the participants were of the view that they should not be blackmailed from Imran Khan’s statements.
Moreover, majority of the PDM leaders opined that elections on national and provincial assemblies should be held ‘at the same time’.
A day earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) top leadership, Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz also held a two-hour-long-meeting to discuss the country’s current political situation.
Sources said that Maryam Nawaz arrived at the PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif’s residence at Jati Umarh while the party supremo Nawaz Sharif participated in the meeting via video link.
Sources claimed that matters related to country’s political and economic situation were discussed during the meeting. The PML-N leadership also expressed ‘serious concern’ over ‘assault’ on law enforcement agencies (LEAs) by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers.
During the meeting, Nawaz Sharif directed PM Shehbaz to ensure ‘enforcement of law’ at any cost.
‘Vile campaign against Army, COAS intolerable’
Earlier in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday, the prime minister denounced “what he called a vile campaign” that he claimed, was initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to target Pakistan Army and its chief Gen Syed Asim Munir, in foreign countries.
He urged overseas Pakistanis to speak out against this campaign and defend the honour and integrity of the country’s military.
“The campaign against the army chief is intolerable and a continuation of the conspiracy against the institutions,” he declared. Sharif, who has emerged significantly weakened from the political crisis, also claimed that “toxic politics” was being spread through the diaspora.
He also issued a call to “patriotic” citizens living abroad to reject and speak out against what he called a “foreign-funded campaign” aimed at destabilising the country.
He has directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan to take strong action against those involved in anti-institution campaigns within the country. He also called for decisive action to be taken against such individuals to preserve the integrity and stability of the nation.
His statement came after supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan took their protest to the streets of London, after staging a demonstration outside the house of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif.
The protesters, numbering in the hundreds, gathered outside the residence of Nawaz Sharif on Edgware Road where pro-Khan slogans were chanted during the protest.
