Shah who presided over the meeting said, "We want the assemblies to complete their term but at this stage, the only thing which the opposition parties demand is resignation of the Prime Minister which is a must to strengthen the teething democracy." He reminded the Prime Minister of his promise that he would step down if the joint investigation team (JIT) gives its report against him, adding the whole nation wants his resignation but he is not ready to fulfill his promise.
"All opposition parties are agreed that they would accept the Supreme Court's verdict. The government is trying to make the JIT controversial, which we will not allow," he added. He took a jibe at the Prime Minister with reference to his relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that India is quite worried as the nation is demanding resignation of Nawaz Sharif.
If the Prime Minister does not resign, the democratic values will be compromised, he said. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) wants to confront with judiciary and other national institutions, adding, ""It's not 90s anymore when Nawaz Sharif got away with the attack on Supreme Court, which was very unfortunate, but PML-N has not abandoned its policies of damaging the state institutions."
Talking to journalists, Shah Mahmood Qureshi of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said that all opposition parties have given Khursheed Shah the authority to call the National Assembly session whenever he deems it fit. Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Sirajul Haq said, "On the basis of the "ultrasound" undertaken by the joint investigation team (JIT), we all want the "patient" must quit."
He said that democratic dispensation is not possible without accountability, adding that there is a need to undertake a ruthless accountability of the corrupt elements to strengthen the democratic system. Aftab Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party said that Awami National Party and QWP are waiting for the final verdict of the Supreme Court before demanding Nawaz Sharif's resignation.
"We completely agree to opposition parties on the issue of PM's resignation and other demands but still we're awaiting the Supreme Court's verdict, so let's see how things will move after the JIT report," he added. Sheikh Rasheed of Awami Muslim League (AML) plainly stated that all opposition parties must stop acknowledging Nawaz Sharif as Leader of the House in National Assembly in the backdrop of the JIT report.
"The Panama Leaks case will reach its logical conclusion and we will make all the corrupt people accountable, as the cancer of corruption has eroded the very foundation of the country," he added. The opposition leaders who attended the meeting included Aitzaz Ahsan and Sherry Rehman from Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Dr Shireen M Mazari from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Aftab Sherpao from QWP, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi from Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq, President Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Farooq Sattar from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Ghulam Ahmed Bilour from Awami National Party.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017