Qadri’s sit-in unites opp

The country’s opposition parties on Wednesday expressed their resolve to curb any unconstitutional step and demanded the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government announce a date for general elections and caretaker setup immediately.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf thanked the opposition leaders for their support and called a meeting of coalition partners to discuss the political scenario today (Thursday). Addressing a news conference after a meeting of opposition leaders in and outside parliament at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s Raiwind resident, the leaders reiterated that change must come through free and fair elections. Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz demanded the government announce the date for the general elections as well as the caretaker setup. He said those creating hurdles in the way of people’s mandate would be stopped. The PML-N chief said the leadership of political parties had reposed full confidence in the Election Commission. He said Chief Election Commissioner Fakharuddin G Ebrhaim had been nominated with consensus. Nawaz said all national issues should be resolved within the constitutional parameters, adding that consultations would continue for holding free and fair elections on time.
He said the government should introduce electoral reforms as directed by the Supreme Court. Nawaz also questioned Dr Tahirul Qadri’s demand for removal of president.Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Fazlur Rehman said Qadri was flouting the constitution. “Qadri is J Salik for Muslims,” he mocked.
To a question, Fazl said he did not know what forces were backing the TMQ leader, but said he was being backed nonetheless. Addressing the news conference, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan leader Sahibzada Awais Noorani said the long march should end at the earliest.
JI chief Syed Munawwar Hassan said protests would be launched across the country if elections were not held on time. PkMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai said some people were resorting to unconstitutional activities and any infringement of the constitution would result in disintegration of the federation. Leader of the National Party Hasil Bizenjo said the government should announce the schedule of the next general elections.
Earlier, the opposition parties’ meeting convened by the PML-N agreed to resolve all national issues within the domain of the constitution.
The meeting reposed full confidence in the Election Commission and stressed that the Commission should not be made controversial.
It also expressed serious concerns on the incidents of violence in Balochistan‚ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa‚ Karachi and the Tribal Areas and called upon the government to take steps for the protection of the lives and properties of the people.
PTI REFUSES TO JOIN SIT-IN: Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has announced that his party would not take part in Dr Qadri’s sit-in in Islamabad. The PTI said a decision had been made to support democratic forces in the country.
Presiding over a meeting of the Political Strategy Committee of the PTI on Wednesday, Khan said immediate fair and free elections under a neutral caretaker government was the only way out of crises the country was facing today.
“Early elections have become even more imperative because of the constitutional crisis in Balochistan, deteriorating law and order situation, Indian aggression visible on the Line of Control and a deep sense of anger in the nation because of inflation, unemployment, load shedding of electricity and gas and closure of CNG stations.”
He said a virtual genocide of the Shia community, the bodies in Peshawar and the continuing killings in Karachi were manifestations of the terrible state of affairs in the country. “These tragedies can only be mitigated by fresh mandate through fair and free elections,” Khan added.
The Political Strategy Committee expressed its apprehension that there would be a ‘muk-muka’ during the formation of the caretaker government and warned that any collusion would be resisted through the power of the people. The meeting also took note of Nawaz Sharif’s press conference in which he said that he did not agree with PTI’s demand of resignation of President Asif Ali Zardari.