PPP, PML-N uncertain on attending Azadi sit-in

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–PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif calls executive committee meeting on Monday to discuss Azadi March

–PPP chief says party may join sit-in at H-9 ground if core committee agrees to it

ISLAMABAD: As the Azadi marchers seeking resignation of the prime minister stay put at an H-9 ground under the leadership of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have yet to decide whether or not they would join the sit-in that was extended by Fazl.

While PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of his party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on Monday to discuss the option, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari says the decision in this regard will be made by the party’s core committee

Sources claimed that the PML-N meeting will focus on Fazl’s demands after the ultimatum ends. The meeting will be attended by Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Tanvir, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and other senior leaders of the party.

‘CORE COMMITTEE WILL DECIDE’:

Speaking to the media persons in Bahawalpur on Sunday, Bilawal said that while his party shared the demands of other political parties, he could not favour a sit-in. “We have never been a part of any dharna but if the party’s core committee agrees to it, we may consider the option,” he said.

Talking about Maulana Fazl’s statement of arresting the prime minister, the PPP chief said that the maulana did not say it in a “threatening manner”.

“He simply meant that the people were angry with the premier to the extent that they wanted to arrest him,” he clarified.

 

The PPP chairman had previously stated that his party does not believe in dharna politics and would only part of opposition’s rally against the government.

He had reiterated the same stance during his conversations with the media during the past two months. On the other hand, PML-N has expressed uncertainty when it comes to the decision of joining the sit-in.

Earlier, the PPP and PML-N leaders said that they would only attend the public meeting and would not support any sit-in as agreed with the maulana.

Opposition parties’ Azadi march, which was spearheaded by the JUI-F, entered Islamabad on Thursday night