"Not only is the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) going to accept mid-term election under any sort of duress, the Prime Minister will also not resign at gunpoint. If this happens the system will not function. Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadir must work towards creating a better environment for mid-term elections, so that the Prime Minister should resign on his own accord and announces mid-term elections," Opposition Leader on Tuesday told media persons in his chamber at the National Assembly.
He said it would be harmful for the country if mid-term elections are held in "these circumstances." We should go for elections by following a proper procedure in order to reduce the tenure of a democratically-elected government from five to four years, he said. Answering a question about the Model Town incident, Opposition Leader said: "The Punjab Chief Minister should have come forward; he should have accepted the responsibility of the incident and announced his resignation."
He said the PPP is ready to lend support to a legislation against corruption should Imran make any such demand. The PPP wants the survival of democracy and protection of the Parliament, he maintained. He said the public meeting of PPP in Karachi will be aimed at strengthening democracy. "We are not favouring Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadir, but we will have to protect a constitutional prime minister," he said. "The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is facing the present situation for its own mistakes," he added.
Khursheed shah said the opposition had asked the "Political Jirga" to hold direct talks with the leadership of PTI, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the ruling PML-N to end the deadlock. "The issue has to be resolved through negotiations, otherwise the 'third force' will take benefit," he said. He said that investigation into vote rigging allegations should be carried out through the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He said that the Speaker of the National Assembly's decision to accept the resignations of PTI members without each member's physical presence for verification could be later challenged in court.