-- Former President meets PM, JI chief, Chaudhry brothers, underscores need for 'dialogue', shows opposition to 'third empire's' potential involvement, says he's for 'win-win' solution
He was talking to media persons on the conclusion of one of his busiest trips to Lahore where he met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Amir Jamaat-i-Islami Sirajul Haq and the Chaudhry brothers separately on Saturday. He was accompanied by Syed Khurshid Shah, Senator Aitezaz Ahsan, Rehman Malik and Senator Raza Rabbani.
"No one should challenge the mandate of any party through street power," he said and added that there would be no such issues after electoral reforms would assist the evolution of democracy to full maturity. "This was the main objective of my visit to Lahore," he said. He said he would hold a meeting of his party's Committee in Karachi to strategize his future plan to "save democracy."
He said he is for a "win-win" solution. "The country should be the ultimate winner," he said, adding: "We should act in the interest of the country and everyone should evolve consensus on this point. We're the main opposition party but we don't want politics of misbehaviour." He added that his opponents had used highly objectionable language against him during his tenure of five years. "But we did not retaliate because we have to set an example for our future generations."
On the 'minus-one formula', he said no politician can entertain such a 'hypothetical' question. Asked about his reaction to the outcome into vote rigging, he said: "We will cross the bridge when we get there." He said he would not consider PTI as an inexperienced party. It is their stated position and "we welcomed them and welcome them even today." He added that the presence of political forces, howsoever weaker they may be, is a must for Pakistan.
He said intrigues are part of politics globally. In his view, he said, there is no 'third umpire' and the situation would aggravate if army intervenes. "Politicians can resolve every situation and they will," he said. He said the PPP was not doing politics after electioneering, as the regional situation does not allow the party to involve in petty politics. He said that Bush Jr. had in fact lost the elections that he contested against Al Gore, but the latter did not take it to the street. "The PPP has also responded in a similar manner," according to him.
He said he was closely following the political situation during his stay outside the country. "I've the mandate of PPP and being a Pakistani I'm always in contact with party leaders," he said. He further said: "I'm for Pakistan and the Parliament." According to him, he had given power to the parliament without any pressure from any quarter and he took that decision even when the PPP commanded majority. "I asked the Speaker to form a Parliamentary committee and delegate Presidential powers to the Parliament," he said. He said the PPP has rendered more sacrifices for democracy in Pakistan than any other party. "PPP has a higher stake in the system," he said and added that Benazir Bhutto had refused to boycott the parliament despite evidence of vote rigging.
The former President said he had called on PM Nawaz Sharif and requested him to show restraint and patience towards the situation. Similarly, he said, he has also asked "other friends" to handle the situation politically. "I went to Jamaat-i-Islami and stressed on importance of dialogue," he said.
He said there are reservations of political parties but these can be mitigated through a dialogue. "We need to show nationalism to support armed forces fighting on the border," he said, adding: "We need to stand by armed forces fighting against Taliban, who have pushed Pakistan to the wall and not letting our girls go to schools; they are not allowing our children to take polio drops."
He said he had met the Chaudhry brothers, Altaf Hussain and Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and trying to ease political tensions. According to him, only the government can devise a formula to effectively deal with the situation and that he has advised the PM "to stay soft". He said it is not his right to give mandate to anybody. Rather, he added, it is the Parliament that gives mandate to a party to form a government. "It is the right of Parliament to complete its term." He said he has no idea whether the PTI and the PAT are derailing democracy. He left for Karachi after holding a press conference.