Opposition parties demand elections dates, caretaker setup

Major opposition parties in the country on Wednesday joined hands to call upon the government to immediately announce dates for parliamentary elections to put an end to the current political uncertainty.

The main opposition leader and former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, had invited leaders of other opposition parties to review the situation following the Supreme Court’s arrest warrant for the Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf and the on-going anti-government protest in Islamabad by a religious leader.

Nawaz Sharif and other opposition leaders told a joint news conference that announcement of dates for the parliamentary elections will put an end to the current uncertainty.

The opposition parties strongly opposed any unconstitutional steps and said they would resist any move to derail democracy. They also announced support to the Election Commission and condemned all efforts to make the Commission controversial.

They said that all the political forces inside and outside the parliament, the media and the civil society had expressed confidence in the Election Commission.

Nawaz SharIf also called for announcement of the caretaker government for holding of elections, adding that the government should talk to all parties about the caretaker setup. He advised President Asif Ali Zardari to act now as the situation could out of the control.

He said the political change must come through free and fair elections, adding that the transition process should be in accordance with the constitution and all electoral reforms must be introduced through parliament.

Nawaz Sharif said those creating hurdles in way of people’s mandate will be stopped.
PML-N Chief said the leadership of political parties has reposed full confidence the elections commission.

He said all national issues should be resolved within the constitutional parameters, adding the consultations will continue for holding free and fair elections on time.

He said the government should introduce electoral reforms as directed by the Supreme Court.

Nawaz Sharif also questioned Tahir ul Qadri’s demand for the removal of president and said that if Zardari resigns the current assemblies could also elect him or the PPP man as the new President, which he described as a move to bring a PPP man again.

Earlier the opposition parties meeting convened by PML-N agreed to resolve all the national issues within the domain of the constitution.

The opposition leader expressed serious concerns on the incidents of violence in Balochistan‚ Khyber Pakhtunkhawa‚ Karachi and the tribal areas and called upon the government to take steps for the protection of the lives and properties of the people.

The opposition parties criticized the government strategy to deal with the ongoing wave of terrorism. They condemned terrorist attacks and expressed sympathy with Shiite community who has lost many people in southwestern Balochistan province.

The opposition leaders condemned the anti-government sit-in in Islamabad and described the move as unconstitutional to harm democratic process.

‘Jamiat ulema-e-Islam’ chief, Maulana Fzal-ur-Rehman, said that certain elements are bent upon harming democracy in the country. However, he said the opposition parties will frustrate all such conspiracies.

Pashtoon nationalist leader, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, said on the occasion that the opposition leaders have decided to defend the constitution at any cost.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Jan 16 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.