We have shown restraint but we won’t bend: Asif

• Parliamentarians voice support for current system, against protesting parties

Speaking on the National Assembly (NA) floor, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif Thursday said that the government has shown “utmost restraint” in dealing with the protesting parties but will not allow them to take the initiative in their hands.

The assembly, which resumed its session in Islamabad with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair, continued discussion on prevailing political situation in the country.

Addressing the house, the defence minister reiterated that government in no way will give up a “single inch” on “unconstitutional” demands of protesting parties.

Rejecting the notion that PML-N is influencing the judiciary, Asif said the government has started process of registering FIR of Model Town tragedy as additional session judge and high court have given their verdicts against the government.

However, he said that the unity expressed by the political parties for protection of supremacy of Constitution is “unmatchable” and the government will not allow anyone to harm the system.

On the issue of prime minister’s resignation, the minister said that the premier did not have the authority to set up a technocrat government and neither there was a need for the Parliament’s dissolution.

Taking part in the debate, Shaheen Shafiq urged the protesting parties to “give something and take something and settle the issue” because the nation had become tired of their sit-ins.

In the meanwhile, Ayesha Raza Farooq said calling elections rigged mere on heresy and demanding resignation of democratically elected prime minister was highly “undemocratic”.

Commending the way government has dealt with the situation on the Constitution Avenue, Asghar Ali Shah said leaders of the protesting parties did not want to settle the crisis through dialogue. He however, urged the government to find amicable solution of the crisis because it has started becoming source of hatred among different segments of society.

Muhammad Riaz Malik said PTI allegations of rigging in the general elections were baseless. He said in NA-118, not a single complaint was registered with the presiding officer by the polling agents of PTI or in the respective police station. He said after two months, they challenged the results in election tribunal which asked NADRA to verify the thumb impression against electoral roles and counter files.

Moreover, he said NADRA reported the results as “one of the best and fair”, adding that this house could call NADRA DG and inquire about the results. He said this would clarify to what extent PTI’s rigging allegations were correct.

Taking part in the debate, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed rejected any recommendation given by Senator Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal related to deputy prime minister. He said the protesting parties were moving towards anarchy which would harm the country.