MNAs of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Jamshed Khan Dasti, Mohsin Ali Qureshi, Nawab Liaquat Ali Khan, Begum Nasim Chaudhry on Sunday urged the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to review its decision to participate in lawyers' long march and sit-in. The party said such protests could derail the democratic process in the country.
'The PML-N should review its decision to take part in the long march. Nawaz Sharif's decision to participate in the long march will not be fruitful to the nation,' PPP member parliament said in a press statement. They said that the country already faced a number of crises and the PPP does not expect political forces to derail the democratic system.
Begum Nasim Chaudhry said the PML-N had acted rationally in last year's long march and it should adopt the same approach this time as well. 'We invite PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to negotiate with us to resolve the issue in parliament,' he said. The senator-elect warned that 'other' forces would take-over the country again if the democratic system were derailed.
PPP leaders said over 85 per cent sacked judges had been reinstated, adding the PPP was willing to accept parliament's decision about the rest of the sacked judges.
Jamshed Khan Dasti also criticised the PML-N for its 'double standards' regarding judiciary, questioning whether the party would act in the same way if the Supreme Court decided in favour of Nawaz in a plea regarding his electoral eligibility. He further said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Chief Nawaz Sharif should be more concerned about the socio-economic problems of the country rather than focusing on petty issues.
Responding to statements by Nawaz regarding President Asif Ali Zardari not reinstating the sacked judges due to some personal agenda, Dasti said Nawaz should not indulge in politics of personal interest when the country is going through crises. He accused Nawaz of dishonouring the sacrifices of assassinated PPP leader Benazir Bhutto had made for the country.
Mohsin Ali Qureshi said President Zardari had never referred to Nawaz's eligibility case. He said he believed everyone should work towards strengthening the country's democratic government instead of attempting to destabilise it.
Former Law Minister Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Awan said that after listening to Nawaz's speech, he did not believe the PPP and the PML-N could function in a united government. PPP leader Naveed Chaudhry claimed the PML-N is a weak political group with a lot of infighting, adding that Nawaz had delivered an inflammatory speech to protect his position. He said that people no longer interested in long march as they have many more important concerns.
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