Army agrees to broker deal to end crisis in Pak
Pak govt allows murder FIR on Sharif brothers
Pakistan Army Chief Raheel Sharif has been requested by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to help solve the persistent political crisis stemming from massive sit- ins by the Pakistan Tehrik- eInsaaf ( PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehrik ( PAT), official sources said.
“The Army Chief has assured the PM that he will play his role to end the standoff,” said a senior government official after Gen. Sharif met Mr Sharif at the private residence of the Premier in Raiwind. “PM Nawaz Sharif requested the Army Chief to resolve the political crisis,” added the official. “It was decided between the two that the political crises must be resolved through negotiations under any conditions,” he said.
Later, PAT leader Tahirul Qadri said the Army had contacted them and agreed to become guarantors of an agreement between the government and the PAT. “It’s historic. The Army has for the first time agreed to become guarantors. It is our first success. We are thankful to the Army Chief,” he said while addressing supporters here.
“We will wait for another 24 hours before going for a revolution,” he said, hinting at violence.
PTI chief Imran Khan said his outfit has agreed to wait 24 hours on the request of the Army Chief. Mr Khan said the struggle was nearing its “destiny” and urged people not to leave until they heard from him again.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan government on Thursday allowed the police to register a murder case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif and top Cabinet members in connection with the killing of 14 PAT workers in Lahore’s Model Town on June 17.
“The Model Town tragedy case has been registered against 21 accused, including PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif,” a police officer said.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday met Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to discuss the persistent political standoff in the country.
According to the officials, they both discussed the ongoing political crisis and agreed upon sorting out the prevailing tension through dialogue.
Earlier, Gen. Sharif had called on Mr Sharif on Tuesday to discuss the political tension.
“Both discussed country’s prevailing political situation including protests outside the Parliament House”, said an official. The meeting came at the time when antigovernment protests in the heart of Pakistan’s capital show no sign of ending almost two weeks after they began as cricketer- turnedpolitician and Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf ( PTI) chief Imran Khan sticks to his demand for Mr Sharif to stand down over allegations his party rigged last year’s elections. Mr Khan on Thursday said that his party will only end its protest if Mr Sharif resigns.
“The Prime Minister should quit to ensure a free and fair enquiry into election rigging”, he said while addressing his supporters here who have staged a massive sit- in in front of Parliament.
He repeated his call for a civil disobedience against the government, appealing people to stop paying utility bills and taxes to the current government.
Meanwhile on Thursday, defence minister Khwaja Mohammed Asif said that the government will not accept any unconstitutional demand of the protesters.
In a statement on the floor of National Assembly, Mr Asif said that no demand violating the Constitution and law will be accepted. He said the Constitution doesn’t permit a government of technocrats. He also said that the Prime Minister is not authorised to form a national government.
He said the country not facing the situation which requires dissolution of assemblies.
“We will fight the battle to defend the Constitution till the end”, he maintained.
Mr Sharif on Thursday cancelled his scheduled visit to Turkey amid political uncertainty while President Mamnoon Hussain flew to the Turkish capital to represent Pakistan at the oath- taking ceremony of President- elect Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“The Prime Minister has cancelled the visit due to the political uncertainty in the country”, said a senior government official.
Mr Sharif was scheduled to leave for Turkey on an official visit to attend oath- taking ceremony of Mr Erdogan as the 12th President of Turkey. “President Hussain will attend the ceremony accompanied by special assistant to the PM on foreign affairs, Tariq Fatemi”, said the official.