Ruling out the possibility of mid-term elections, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan on Tuesday claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will soon call off the sit-in due to pressure from the public as well as from members of his party.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House, Ahsan said that although the PTI chairman had claimed that he would not abandon the sit-in until the resignation of the prime minister, he keeps on coming to and going from the protest’s venue.
Responding to a question, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader said mid-term elections were out of question. He further said that the PTI chairman should call off his sit-in.
The PPP senator said that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain was asked not to push for the demand of new provinces, saying it could boost religious extremism. Ahsan nonetheless noted that MQM had the right to demand new provinces.
“It is the right of MQM to lay out its demand for new provinces but these provinces should only be formed by following respective laws and procedures in the Constitution,” he added.
On MQM’s calls for a trial of PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah, Ahsan said Shah had “already apologised for his remarks”. The PPP senator said that leaders of his party had utmost respect for those who left their homes for Pakistan but that MQM was trying to politicise the issue.
“It is not fair to prolong any issue after an apology,” Ahsan added.
Commenting on MQM’s reservations over his news conference held on Monday, Ahsan explained that in his opinion the Muhajir community had strengthened Pakistan after independence.