Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Army contradict each other

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that there will be no “U-turn” on democracy.

“The nation has struggled hard for the democracy. There will be no U-turn on democracy now,” said Mr Sharif.

“Even if I have to sacrifice my ten governments, I will do that but I will not compromise on my democratic principles,” the PM said on the floor of the National Assembly.

Mr Sharif said that the Pakistan Army had to play a role because they have been entrusted to ensure security of Islamabad under Article 245 of the Constitution. He said that protesters at Constitution Avenue had intentions to incite violence, adding that the Army has initiated talks on request of leaders of both the protesting Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT).

However, Pakistan’s powerful military on Friday said it was the government that asked it to play a “facilitative role” in resolving the current impasse, contradicting Mr Sharif’s statement that protest leaders approached the Army Chief to intervene.

“COAS (Chief of Army Staff) was asked by the Govt to play facilitative role for resolution of current impasse, in yesterday’s meeting, at #PM House,” Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted as Mr Sharif and protest leaders Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri traded charges over who was responsible for the Army’s intervention.

Maj. Gen. Bajwa’s remarks came after the PM told the National Assembly that “neither had I asked Army nor the armed forces sought a role in the present political crisis.” Mr Sharif scotched media reports that it was he who “requested” the Army to come to his rescue, saying it was Mr Khan and Mr Qadri who approached Army Chief Raheel to become a mediator. Responding to Mr Sharif’s statement, an angry Mr Qadri shot back: “I say this categorically that the PM asked the Army to intervene. I am saying, on the record, that we did not make any request asking the Army to intervene.”

“I had not even spoken to the Army Chief before our meeting yesterday,” Mr Qadri said, adding Mr Sharif made the statement after he saw his government was losing strength.

However, Prime Minister Sharif claimed that “I allowed the Army chief to meet them as they wanted to speak to him,” said Mr Sharif.

He added, “I am under oath of the Constitution, and I will abide by the resolution adopted by the National Assembly in support of the democracy.”

Mr Sharif assured the House that government will honour each word of the resolution passed by the House regarding holding of negotiations with protesters. He said all political forces, including the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and others have rendered matchless sacrifices for restoration and strengthening of democracy and he himself worked with the late Benazir Bhutto for this great cause.

He appreciated the statements of Opposition leader Syed Khurshid Shah and Mehmood Khan Achakzai and said these are voice of his own heart. Later, leaders of the Opposition parties in the National Assembly held a meeting with Mr Sharif here and discussed current political situation. The PM took them into confidence about arbitration role of the Army to resolve political impasse.

Pakistan interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly on Friday that PTI and PAT leaders wished to involve Army Chief Raheel Sharif in talks to end the current crisis, so Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif allowed them to have a meeting on Thursday night. “It was not the government, but they (the PTI and PAT) who involved the Army in the talks. They wanted to meet the Army Chief. The government never wanted the Army’s involvement”, said Mr Khan. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan also slammed the Premier for saying Mr Qadri and he asked for the Army to intervene.

“I want to tell you what I told the army chief. I told Gen Raheel that I do not trust Nawaz Sharif at all,” Mr Khan said adding that PTI did not ask the army to mediate.

“I am not going to backtrack on the resignation of the prime minister on any account,” he said.

The army had earlier asked all stakeholders in the crisis to hold “meaningful” talks to end the crisis. In its 67-year history, Pakistan has witnessed three coups, including one against Sharif in 1999 by the then army chief General Parvez Musharraf.

The army, which has so far been passive in the confrontation between the government and protesters, has a history of capturing power from democratically elected governments.

Also, a Pakistani court on Friday admitted a petition by PAT for hearing to dissolve the provincial and national assemblies. “The Lahore high court has admitted a petition made by PAT to dissolve the assemblies”, said a court official. The court sent notices to the federal government, the Punjab government and the attorney-general for Pakistan (AGP) asking them to appear on September 19.

Using a statement made by the former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah as evidence, a PAT representative stated that Mr Sanaullah had said that members of the Assembly took commission from development funds, thereby not fulfilling Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. His request further stated that as the Assembly members were violating the Constitution so “all assemblies should be dissolved”.

He urged General Sharif and army as an institution to ensure that a fresh First Information Report (FIR) into Model Town massacre be registered after incorporating anti-terrorism clauses.

Mr Qadri said that the army chief listened to him patiently during the meeting, which lasted for three and a half hours. The PAT chief said that he was satisfied after meeting with General Sharif.