Govt will fail in pitting army against PTI, believes Qureshi

• PTI vice chairman confident that party’s protest will not invite boots nor will army attack peaceful PTI protesters
• Alleges govt will be responsible for its own fate due to its high-handed attitude against protesters
• Says breakdown of law and order in Punjab is Punjab govt’s conspiracy to oust Nawaz’s govt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that the government’s decision to invoke Article 245 to pit the army against PTI protesters would be in vain as PTI has a history of holding peaceful protests.

In an interview with Pakistan Today, Qureshi said it is Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and not PTI which is conspiring against the government, labelling the breakdown of law and order across Punjab as a conspiracy against the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif-led government.

Qureshi said that the killing of yet another Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) worker in Bhakkar is part of the conspiracy, adding that such incidents of police torture against political activists may jeopardise the entire democratic setup.

He said that the government’s tactics of misusing police is a reminiscent of the Musharraf-era.

“Half of the PML-N-led government’s cabinet comprises Musharraf’s ministers and colleagues,” he said, adding that if Musharraf is given a safe passage, it would be NRO-4.

Asked about the alleged secret meeting between PTI Chairman Imran Khan and former ISI DG General Shuja Pasha, Quershi categorically denied any meeting.

“This reflects how low a government can go to spread rumours,” he said.

About the possibility of imposition of a martial law due to PTI’s long march, Qureshi said if martial law is imposed, the PTI would oppose it with full force. He alleged that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and PML-N were trying to eliminate PTI as PTI is the biggest threat to their politics. “They want to keep playing the power game in turns.”

ARMY WON’T ATTACK PEACEFUL PTI PROTESTORS:

Asked whether the government had invoked Article 245 to pit the army against PTI protesters, Qureshi said that the armed forces would not take action against peaceful PTI workers.

“In 1977, the army refused to fire at protesters. We think that the army’s focus should be on Operation Zarbb-e-Azb. Let them do their duty.”

He said that the government wanted to give an impression that army would be pitted against the PTI “but their wishes and plans will not come true,” he maintained.

“Holding a peaceful protest is our right. Our record reflects holding hundreds of peaceful demonstrations. The government’s attitude would decide their fate,” he said.

‘PPP SHOULD GET RID OF ITS CONFUSION’:

Asked about the role being played by PPP in the present situation, Qureshi, himself a former PPP stalwart, said that National Assembly Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah should represent the opposition rather than the government.

“The top PPP leadership should get rid of its confusion. Either they should join the government or they should stand by the opposition,” he said.

Qureshi said that since the PPP is not in a position to go into re-election and face the public, it is not lending support to PTI’s demand for re-election.

“The performance of PPP in Sindh is poor and they have also performed poorly across the country previously, during the past poll.”

He added that PPP is now caught up between the devil and the deep sea because PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had alleged that returning officers had rigged the 2013 polls.

PTI WANTS ELECTORAL REFORMS:

Qureshi said Qadri’s party has its own viewpoint.

“We don’t want to jeopardise the system. We only want electoral reforms. We support Qadri and denounce Police misuse by the Punjab government,” he said.

Qureshi alleged that PTI wanted lawmaker Raza Rabbani to head the electoral reforms committee. “We named Raza Rabbani as chairman but in a ‘muk-muka’ move, the PPP supported Ishaq Dar, leaving Rabbani in a lurch”.

“We will want elections under a new election commission and with reforms in electoral laws,” he said, adding that this would strengthen the democratic system in Pakistan.

“There is an independent media which can’t be gagged now. Free judiciary can’t be pressured anymore. It is now time for transparent elections in Pakistan,” he concluded.