PPP not in favour of vote recounting: Shah

National Assembly opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah has said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) did not support Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s demand for vote recounting, a private TV channel reported.

Speaking during a press conference Sunday, Shah said that PPP did not support PTI’s demand for vote recounting in all constituencies but supported its demand of recounting in four constituencies only.

Pushing the government not to bar protests and long marches, Shah also urged PTI chief Imran Khan not to create disturbance on Independence Day, advising him to be patient and let the democracy function.

The statement has come in contradiction to last Tuesday’s development when PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar quoted Zardari as saying that “heavens will not fall if [PTI’s] demand is accepted”, adding that recounting of votes could be carried out in 40 constituencies, if so needed, instead of only four as the PTI was demanding.

The PPP co-chairman had expressed surprise over what he called “continued foot dragging” by the government on PTI’s demand. The recounting of votes in constituencies, where there have been complaints and demands have been made for it, should be carried out whether such constituencies were in Punjab or Sindh or elsewhere, Zardari had said.

Moreover, PPP Senior Vice Chairperson Makhdoom Amin Fahim, while speaking to journalists on Sunday, said it was not possible for the opposition to be on the same page in the current circumstances while the reaction to protests by opposition will not be beneficial for democracy.

He said that though he was not satisfied with the performance of the current government, he wanted sustainability of democratic process in the country. He also said the government had a public mandate and ruled out the possibility of mid-term elections in the country.

Moreover, he said that PTI’s long march on August 14 on Islamabad will not harm the order of the country.

“God willing, the country will remain stable on August 14,” he added.

However, Fahim lamented that it seemed there was no writ of the government in the country. He said law and order situation was extremely dangerous in the country and current circumstances were not the one that may bring all opposition parties on one page.

To a question, he said had the PML-N knew that there was no rigging, they would have allowed recount of four constituencies as demanded by the PTI. He termed Asif Zardari’s statement in this regard on reality-based. He said it was up to the government to complete its five year tenure.

Fahim reiterated that PPP wanted strengthening of democracy.