Pak to seek Army help to clear red zone
Imran, Qadri join hands; PPP, others stand with PM; 3 more cases against PTI, PAT chiefs
The government has kicked off consultation on acquiring military’s assistance in getting the red zone of Islamabad cleared of all protesters.
Sources said since the official activities at the Constitution Avenue are affected in the wake of the ongoing sit- ins by the PTI and the PAT, the government was under pressure to clear the area.
Sources added that the government will get a resolution passed from the joint session of the Parliament, seeking military to vacate the red zone.
The resolution will be tabled at the end of the ongoing joint session of the Parliament. It was said that the resolution will be stressing on the clearance of Islamabad’s red zone through a constitutional way, following which the government will formally issue the orders in this regard.
Pakistan government on Tuesday declared Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf ( PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehrik ( PAT) leader Tahirul- Qadri as “rebels of Pakistan” who were fooling the nation.
“Protests by PTI and PAT are a rebellion against Pakistan,” said the interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while addressing the joint sit- ting of the Parliament. PM Nawaz Sharif chaired a joint session of Parliament on Tuesday as a deepening crisis over violent protests demanding his resignation prompted fears of an Army intervention.
Mr Sharif enjoys a solid majority in Parliament and by convening both Houses he seeks to reaffirm that he is fully in control. His office said Parliament would be in session all week to discuss the crisis.
In his address, PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan said that elected representatives of Parliament support the legitimate government. “All Opposition parties stand united with democracy and the Constitution,” Aitzaz Ahsan said.
Other Opposition parties also assured support to the government saying they will not allow removal of the Prime Minister in any unconstitutional way.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, 3 more case were registered against PTI chief Imran Khan and PAT leader Tahirul Qadri over alleged violence in anti- government protests led by the two Opposition politicians.
Mr Khan announced his party’s legislators will attend Wednesday’s joint session of Parliament. He said PTI vice- chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi will explain during the joint- session why his party wanted to quit the national and provincial Assemblies.
Also, the PTI and the PAT officially joined hands as PAT chief Tahir- ul- Qadri joined Imran Khan on his container.
Speaking to the crowd on this occasion, Mr Qadri said that the Articles 1- 40 of the Constitution gave rights to the people of Pakistan but the people of Pakistan were never given their rights during the last 41 years.
He said that his struggle was for the rights of the people and those who had not given the rights to the people of Pakistan should be tried under Article 6.
Mr Khan said that he and Tahir- ul- Qadri would not leave the container unless they get PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif ’ s resignations.