PESHAWAR- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Thursday threatened to stage a sit-in in front of the Chief Minister House in Peshawar, if Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) did not wind up its protest in front of the Parliament House immediately.
This decision was taken at the N-League provincial council meeting held in Peshawar. Presided over by PML-N KP President Pir Sabir Shah, the council meeting was also attended by a large number of its members and workers.
The sole aim of the provincial council meeting of the PML-N was to extend full support to the federal government. Besides they also asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to step down on the demand of PTI, which has started a sit-in against the government since August 14 in Islamabad. Besides others, prominent among the participants were Advisor to Prime Minister and N-League Central Leader Ameer Muqam, PML-N KP General Secretary Rehmat Salam Khattak, Arbab Khizar Hayat and others. Moreover, the provincial general council also agreed to direct district level organisations of the party to motivate workers for the proposed sit-in in front of the Chief Minister House. The district-based office-bearers of the party were directed to set up committees in this regard.
The participants of the meeting said that the PML-N has strengthened the economy of the country, laid net of roads and motorways. But unfortunately, they said, having a hidden agenda, certain elements were out to destabilise an elected democratic government. The party workers chanted slogans in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and vowed to back him at all at this critical stage. They said that all nefarious designs of rivals would be foiled.
At one stage of the meeting, a staunch supporter of N-League, who has been affiliated with the party for the last 30 years, identified as Iftikahr holding a placard inscribed with slogans in support of Premier Nawas Sharif advanced to the dais at the time when Ameer Muqam was addressing the meeting.
Meanwhile certain workers of the party and bodyguards of Ameer Muqam rushed towards Iftikahr to remove him from the front of dais, which led to brawl and resultantly a hand of the ill-fated old Leaguer got fractured. Talking to the media, Iftikhar said that he wanted to talk to the gathering as well Ameer Muqam that time has gone to deliver long speeches and it is the time to go out in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is in trouble these days. “Let us proceed towards Islamabad. Do not waste more time. It is the right time to fight for democracy and rule of law,” he said, adding unfortunately, he was not let to talk to the gathering and was beaten by Ameer Muqam’s guards and one of his hands also got fractured. He said that PML-N has also the right to call for a sit-in like that of the PTI and PAT.
PM WILLING TO MEET IMRAN, QADRI: KH ASIF
Monitoring Desk adds: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is willing to meet Imran Khan as well as Dr Tahirul Qadri if such an initiative can help resolve the crisis, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said in a TV interview on Thursday. He said the government has no intention to arrest the PTI chairman.
According to the minister, the PAT activists who could be set free immediately under the law would be released. But to make it happen, he said, the PAT leadership should give the government lists of all such people. In response to a question, the minister said the prime minister would not tender resignation at any cost. He also made it clear that there was no possibility of the army taking over power because of the ongoing political crisis. “Military interventions are now the story of the past”. He said at present Triple One Brigade provides security to the prime minister.
GOVT WON’T ACCEPT MARCHERS’ UNJUST DEMAND: PERVAIZ
 Staff Reporter from Islamabad adds: Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that the government has engaged in talks with the leadership of marchers, however, their unconstitutional demands cannot be accepted.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, Rashid said that there was not a single political party, which is in favour of Prime Minister’s resignation. Talking about the protesters, the minister said that the government had not put any pressure on the participants of the sit-in through police. Responding to a question about talks between the government and the protesters, he said that positive results are expected of the dialogue. Continuation of dialogue is the desire of the government, he added.
He also said the government has taken no such step which justifies suspension of the dialogue process. He said PML-N has a clear stand that it will not accept unconstitutional demand of Prime Minister’s resignation through pressure of marches and sit-ins. He said the government is very concerned about the women and children participating in the sit-ins and wants to play role to get them rid as soon as possible. To a question, he said the armed forces are playing their role while remaining within the ambit of the constitution.