Islamabad: Pakistan’s parliament began a debate on Tuesday on the turmoil in the national capital, as a tense stand-off continued between the police and protesters from two Opposition parties demanding resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan opened the discussion at the joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate, following the violent clashes that left hundreds of people injured and at least three dead.

The minister said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) headed by religious luminary Tahirul Qadri were spearheading “a revolt against the state”.

Prime minister Sharif was present at the session, which was adjourned after four-hour proceedings, to meet again on Wednesday.

Analysts said besides reiterating support to Sharif, a resolution to be passed by the parliament is likely to ask the army to clear the protesters from the sensitive Red Zone of the capital.

Nisar Khan said 10,000 to 20,000 workers of the two parties “armed with axes, sticks, cutters and slingshots” were in the capital to “impose their disastrous agenda.”

“They are terrorists,” the minister said, urging the parliament to send a clear message and map out the course of action for dealing with them.

He said more than 100 policemen had been injured so far by protesters who also stormed the headquarters of the state television on Monday and according to him stole eight video cameras.

The minister said the protesting parties were using the name of the army and telling their cadres that the army was behind them.

Meanwhile, PTI president Javed Hashmi on Tuesday resigned from the membership of parliament, a day after his startling revelation that the current political crisis in the country was scripted.

He also criticised PTI chairman Imran Khan for going back on his promises. “People say why I didn’t come out with the truth before but I was trying to convince PTI members. Imran promised me he won’t go against the constitution.” Despite his rift with the party, Hashmi said he was still the elected party president.

 

Court should intervene

Without mentioning the army’s public denial on Monday of claims that it was backing PTI and PAT, the interior minister said the parliament as well as the Supreme Court should call the leaders of the two parties and ask them “why they are trying to involve the army.”

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) senior leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, speaking on behalf of the Opposition leader in the National Assembly, said Opposition parties were “unconditionally” backing democracy and the constitution.

“No one can force the prime minister to resign,” he said.

At the same time there “is truth” in the complaints and grievances of protesters, Senator Ahsan said, questioning the performance of the 14-month old Pakistan Muslim League-N (ML-N) government.

Pointing out that Sharif had come to the Senate only once in a year, the senator expressed thanks to PTI-PAT leaders for making the prime minister “remember parliament.”

The PPP leader said it was a fact that the 2013 general election was massively rigged.

Ahsan referred to the June 17 incident in Lahore in which 14 PAT workers were killed and over 80 wounded in police firing and said instead of accepting responsibility, the Punjab government had put the blame on some police officials.

The PPP leader said the uproar against rampant corruption was also justified.

“Mr. prime minister, the parliament is with you unitedly and your government will wade through the crisis, but afterwards ... you have to go back to the drawing board and do brainstorming as to what mistakes were made,” Ahsan said.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmaker Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, representing the Karachi-based party in the debate, said if a political sacrifice is needed to resolve the crisis it should be forthcoming.

Siddiqui said MQM was ready to sacrifice its 25 seats in parliament.

He said democracy will gain strength only when the system provides social and economic justice and fulfil the basic needs of people.

Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) leader Fazlur Rehman, referring to the statement issued by the military’s pubic relations wing after a conference of corps commanders on Sunday, questioned the call in it for avoiding use of force.

The JUI leader said there was a “conspiracy to roll back democracy” but vowed that parliament would defeat it.

Rehman said Sharif would not resign or go on leave and would continue to represent parliament.

MP Mahmood Khan Achakzai said troops got the state TV headquarters vacated by protesters and the same way they should rid the capital of those paralysing the state institutions.

Imran Khan told media he has asked PTI legislators, whose resignations from the parliament are pending with the National Assembly speaker, to attend the parliament on Wednesday for the last time to present the party’s viewpoint.