- Aitzaz Ahsan says Khurshid Shah is a man of principles and he had not proposed holding of mid-term elections
- Rebukes PTI and PAT for anti-govt protests; asks PM not to submit to any of protesters’ demands
Two senior leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan and Qamar Zaman Kaira, on Wednesday denied that National Assembly Opposition Leader Khurshid Shah had called for mid-term elections in the country.
Senate Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan told reporters outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad that the PPP was not considering any proposal regarding mid-term elections.
The PPP stalwart said that Shah is a man of principles and he had not called for holding mid-term polls.
“No one can force Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign and PPP will oppose any such move,” he added.
Rebuking the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) for protesting against the government, Ahsan said that the demand for dissolution of the Parliament is unacceptable.
“How will the government tackle matters if an organised group held sit-ins outside the Supreme Court building to get a terrorist or most-wanted person released,” he asked.
Urging the PM to take a bold stand, Ahsan said that the PM should not accept the demands of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri.
“The PTI and PAT chiefs are using their workers for their own designs,” alleged the PPP stalwart.
KAIRA’S DENIAL:
Meanwhile addressing a press conference in Lahore, PPP’s former information minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said he has been screaming himself hoarse since Tuesday to clarify that Shah had not made any such statement.
“Ask Shah Sahib, ask me, Shah Sahib did not say anything like that,” Kaira added.
The PPP leader went on to rebuke those criticising Shah unnecessarily.
“What is the reason for Khurshid Shah to be a victim of this character assassination?” he asked. “That too for something he has not done. He is a senior political worker and he should be treated like one.”
On Monday, Shah had reportedly told journalists in his chamber at the Parliament House that if the situation arises, the prime minister can himself call for snap elections.
“It will not be appropriate to force the prime minister to resign at gunpoint. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will not accept any mid-term polls in such a situation,” Shah was quoted as saying.