Political leaders urge govt, PTI to show restraint

Leaders from various political parties have urged the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to show restraint, saying that extreme steps from both sides will put the country at risk.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah warned that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and PTI Chairman Imran Khan would both be responsible if something happens to Pakistan.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he said that Imran Khan should realise that this was not the way to achieve power.

“The only way to reach power is through parliament,” Shah said.

The opposition leader said that what happened in Faisalabad will not make a difference to Imran Khan or the government, but it would harm the state.

PPP Spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar called for an impartial enquiry into the Faisalabad violence, and urged both sides to show restraint.

The PPP spokesperson said the Punjab government erred by allowing PML-N workers to come out into the streets and confront PTI workers when passions were running high. He said this had invited clashes between the two sides, adding that “this provocation could and must have been avoided”.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq warned of imposition of martial law in the country if political parties do not learn the lessons of the past.

While speaking to reporters in Lahore, he said that Pakistan’s problems would only increase if the situation ever came to that point.

“There is still time…the govt and PTI must return to dialogue,” he said.

Awami National Party (ANP) leader Zahid Khan said the state should not harbour hopelessness, adding that when a state becomes hopeless it leads to an anarchic state in the country.

He said that problems should not be resolved by coming out on the roads, adding that the proper channel for resolving problems was the parliament. He also said that both parties should ask their workers to remain peaceful.