Islamabad: Politician Imran Khan on Wednesday ruled out any further talks with the government on resolving the current political crisis unless Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.
Addressing his party workers and supporters whose sit-in close to parliament in Islamabad continued for the thirteenth day, the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leader said there was no room now for talks.
He said the government had turned down even the watered down PTI demand that Sharif resign for 30 days to facilitate an agreed probe by a panel of Supreme Court judges into charges of rigging in the 2013 election.
“Hence we will not hold any negotiations and whatever happens I shall stay here until Nawaz Sharif steps down,” he said after the latest round of talks between the government and his party.
Earlier in the day, the prime minister declared in the National Assembly he would never compromise on his oath to protect Pakistan’s constitution,
Sharif said nine out of 10 parties represented in the parliament had voted for a resolution the National Assembly passed a few days ago vowing to uphold supremacy of the Constitution and the parliament.
He said the lawmakers had demonstrated their faith in the Constitution and the democratic system which “is victory of the ideology we all believe in.”
The prime minister said no one would be allowed to derail the system.
Sharif said the journey for strengthening democracy and ensuring supremacy of the Constitution and the parliament representing the will of 200 million people would continue.
“Governments come and go, but the sustainability of the democratic system must be ensured,” he said.
Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique, a key member of the government’s negotiating team, told the assembly that the government has accepted all demands of the PTI except their insistence on resignation of the prime minister.
He informed the House that Sharif has directed the ruling party to stop all type of rallies in favour of the government to avoid any clash with workers of protesting parties.
