Senator Aitzaz Ahsan says govt can emerge victorious if it ‘plays cool’
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation and re-election remains the only bone of contention between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and the government, as both sides are willing to talk on the rest of the issues, Pakistan Today has learnt.
All the set of demands put up by the PTI and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PAT) leadership are elaborate, however the major focus is on the resignation of the premier. The government, through political parties trying to broker a deal, has offered an olive branch to Khan while including talks on electoral reforms, reconstitution of the Election Commission and re-counting of votes in a selected number of constituencies.
“The government is willing to talk on all of these issues and the political parties are also demanding reforms for free and impartial elections. However, the premier will not step down and the government is not willing to talk on this whatsoever,” a senior political leader involved in the talks told Pakistan Today.
Major political parties have already said that there was nothing unconstitutional in demanding the resignation from the prime minister.
During a press briefing in Mansoora, after meeting with the Punjab governor, JI chief Sirajul Haq also said that there was nothing unconstitutional about demanding premier’s resignation.
“These demands are constitutional and should be directed to the government and not to you or me per se,” the JI chief added.
Even Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar has reiterated the same demand while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Aitzaz Ahsan also expressed similar views on the media. However, the government is not willing to budge on this point and hence a deadlock has been created.
However, PTI Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said there were no negotiations ongoing with the government and the PTI has made its demands public.
Moreover, talking to Pakistan Today, JI central leader Liaqat Baloch said that their party was only playing a role to save “democracy and the country” and convincing both sides to save the overall system.
However, the deadlock is going to favour the PML-N, only if they do not apply force.
PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, talking to Pakistan Today, maintained that it will only strengthen the government because the government has to make a very “stupid” move to fall. “If the government plays cool, it will emerge a winner out of the situation,” he added.