The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentarians and workers supported by other members of the opposition in the National Assembly filled the air with shouts for President Asif Ali Zardari’s ouster on Thursday as they marched from Parliament House to the Presidency gates to stage a sit-in there against the unpopular president.
After staging a walkout from the House following a heated exchange between the opposition and the treasury, the lawmakers walked towards the Presidency holding up placards inscribed with slogans against President Zardari and shouting slogans asking him to step down. One placard read: “Mr President give me my future back”. Besides the PML-N, parliamentarians from PML-Likeminded, PML-Quaid Azad Group, PPP-Sherpao (PPP-S) and JUI-F participated in the protest march and sit-in. PPP parliamentarian from Balochistan Syed Nasir Ali Shah also attended the rally.
MASS MOVEMENT: The opposition parties said the protest was against the government’s helplessness against load shedding, deteriorating law and order, inflation, unemployment and foreign aggression and vowed that the rally would prove to be a start for a mass movement against the government.
The parliamentarians and political workers, not more than 200 in total, were welcomed at the gates by security personnel and officials of the intelligence agencies. However, no one tried to get in and the rally stopped outside the Presidency for a sit-in. President Zardari also happened to be present at the Presidency when the protesters were outside shouting slogans against him. Addressing the participants of the rally, National Assembly Opposition Leader Nisar Ali Khan lashed out at the government and its allies, holding them responsible for the current economic, energy and political crises in the country. “Unfortunately the rulers have no concerns with the problems being faced by the common man and they are busy cutting deals,” he said, referring to the PPP’s talks with the PML-Q. He said President Zardari had become isolated. “What else is isolation? His movement is only restricted to the Presidency,” said Nisar. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi said the time had come to give a call to the whole nation to come forward and safeguard Pakistan. PPP-S chief Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said the country was facing serious challenges but the government was not paying heed to the issues. PML-Likeminded chief Senator Salim Saifullah said he was there to add his voice to the protesting parliamentarians
on behalf of his party.
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