The Opposition Parties in the National Assembly have vowed to defend, protect and preserve Constitution and democratic institutions. All opposition parties except Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that did not attend the Monday's session of the National Assembly, urged the government to start negotiations with PTI and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) to settle all issues peacefully and amicably.
Opposition members criticised Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government for not taking timely action to avoid a grave political turmoil. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid moved a motion in the House to discuss the prevailing political situation. Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said it was their collective responsibility to safeguard democracy. He added they would not allow anybody to harm democracy and promote uncertainty in the country.
The Opposition Leader said that Parliamentary leaders of opposition political parties were ready to hold talks with PTI and PAT for the resolution of the impasse if Prime Minister gave them a mandate in this regard. He said if the protesting parties believed in rule of law and Constitutionalism they must opt for a dialogue to defuse the tension.
He said, "The situation has aggravated because the government did not take timely decision. The present situation could have been avoided had the government accepted the PTI demands for the audit of four constituencies. It is responsibility of all of us to protect and preserve the Constitution." Mahmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said it was the prime responsibility of every political party to uphold the rule of law and Constitutionalism. He said it was the prime duty of each political party and each worker to stand up for the protection of Constitution and democracy in the country. He said: "Over our dead bodies! If any unconstitutional step is taken."
Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said the protesting parties were making efforts to paralyse the government machinery, which would not be tolerated. He said it did not show the will of the people of the country even if any party was able to gather even two million workers for a sit-in.
He said a judicial commission had been formed to investigate rigging in the elections and urged the PTI to prove its allegations through evidence. He said PTI should also use the forum of parliament to present its point of view and avoid presenting such demands which were not tenable. He said the political parties should also pay attention towards sufferings of IDPs of North Waziristan.
Rashid Godil of MQM and Sahibzada Tariqullah, of Jamaat-i-Islami urged the government to form a committee to engage the protesting parties to resolve issues. Sahibzada Tariqullah said that all political parties were committed to rule of law and democracy. He said Imran Khan's call for civil disobedience was not against the government but it was against the state. Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of Awami National Party (ANP) regretted the recent prevailing political situation and said the matter should be resolved through negotiations. We should avoid creating situations like Egypt, Syria and Iraq.
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