ISLAMABAD - All leading political parties now feel that democracy is facing no danger from the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)'s Azadi March and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT)'s revolutionary march. The political gurus appreciated the government's positive attitude for resolving the crisis and safeguarding democracy in the country.
Talking to The Nation, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Leader Senator Saeed Ghani praised the government's steps for resolving the current political crisis through dialogue, saying all roads leading to Islamabad were opened by removing containers from the main entry and exit points of federal capital.
He informed that different political parties, including PPP, JI and MQM played their roles for decreasing the political temperature and delegations of these parties met with Imran Khan, Dr Tahirul Qadri and government in this regard.
Ghani condemned the demand of PTI Chief Imran Khan of setting up technocrat government instead of a democratic government in the country. He said that he could not believe that chief of a third largest political party in the country would demand technocrat set-up in Pakistan.
He welcomed the incumbent government positive attitude for addressing the political issues through political way. "The marches of PTI and PAT marches do not pose any danger to democracy," he added.
Jamaat Islami Senior Leader Liaquat Baloch informed The Nation that the JI forced the government to open the roads for PTI's Azadi March and requested Imran Khan to advise his workers to stage peaceful protest.
Baloch claimed that the JI's efforts were purely for Pakistan and not for any political party and political personality. He said that government should stay calm and cool during the 'Azadi March'. He said that JI believed resolution of all national issues through constitutional way. He said the JI is thankful of government, which considered its recommendations and removed the hurdles from all entry points of Islamabad.
A senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP) Zahid Khan said that Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri are on same page and the scriptwriter of their marches was also same.
He said that Imran Khan was following a hidden agenda and wanted to destabilise democratic process in Pakistan. He said that Imran Khan must realise that the 18th constitutional amendment stopped the way of martial law or technocrat set-up in Pakistan.
He said that PTI did not take on board the leadership of other political parties and especially opposition parties of Balochistan, Sindh regarding the long march against the government.
He said that Imran Khan spent the whole week in Lahore for preparations of long march but he could not spare a full day for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where PTI is ruling.
He said the government took positive step and allowed PTI and PAT marches to enter Islamabad but both leaders would be responsible if any untoward incident happened in the capital.
MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi shared his views with The Nation on the current political situation of country and said the opposition party had the right to stage peaceful protest and organise long march against government under the constitution. He said that MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain and other leadership wanted to see development of democratic system in Pakistan and MQM always played its role in this connection.
He said that some ministers of federal cabinet briefed MQM Quaid Altaf Hussain and assured him that the government would open all roads for PTI and PAT marches. He praised the government's attitude to deal with political issues through democratic way.
MIDTERM POLLS NO SOLUTION TO COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS: FAZL: Jamiat-I-Ulema-I-Islam-Fazl(JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the solution to the problems confronting the nation was not in midterm elections or some unconstitutional way to topple the democratically elected government.
Talking to the party leaders here on Thursday, Fazl said that the mainstream political parties were opposing the midterm elections only because they knew it well that it would further aggravate the problems of the country and weaken the political system.
Terming the demand of electoral reforms through technocrats set-up by Imran Khan unconstitutional and baseless, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that no political party could oppose the reformation in the electoral system, adding that a 33-member Parliamentary Committee was already in place and asked the PTI leadership to come up with their suggestions in the committee.
Fazl said that his party was against any undemocratic and unconstitutional demand by any quarter because they believed that country was passing through a very critical phase and could not afford adventurism at this juncture.
Terming the solution of problems facing the people of Pakistan the biggest challenge before the political forces, Fazl stressed the need of optimal utilisation of the democratic forums, including the Parliament to resolve the major issues of masses.
He said the JUI-F chief considered Parliament as right forum to discuss issues and hoped that political forces would take full use of this platform to get their constitutional demands met.
Referring to the recent protest marches announced by Pakistan Tehrik-I-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehrik, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that by creating a crisis like situation in the country and enormously harming the country's economy both these parties were not doing any service to the country rather they seemed toeing the agenda of country's enemies who did not want to see economy and democracy flourish in the country.
He also dispelled the possibility of any change in the government with the street agitation by these parties and advised them to adopt the legal and constitutional way to get their demands fulfilled.