No other opposition party supporting Imran’s protest campaign

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chief Imran Khan’s fresh bid for change would be a flight of duo - as except Sheikh Rasheed no other opposition party will support him on his new adventure with democracy.

In the wake of Imran Khan’s announcement of launching a fresh move against government from August 7, no party is in a position to join other party in its protest campaign. There is a serious identity crisis realisation in the ranks of opposition parties which is keeping them away from united against the government.

The opposition parties whether it is PPP, PTI or Jamaat-e-Islami have this realisation that they would lose their identity and ideology if they join any party’s movement against the government. Therefore in order to maintain their separate identity each of the party is mulling over taking solo flight against the government which is a big favour to the ruling party. The opposition parties are divided on Imran Khan’s call for protest campaign against the prime minister as none of the party is willing to follow other party and every party wants they should lead the movement against the government which is not possible under the current circumstances.

PPP in this regard has conveyed its message to Imran Khan loud and clear that it would not join him on his call for protest against the government and that his decision would damage the cause of opposition parties against the government.

Talking to media, Opposition Leader in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah said PTI Chief Imran Khan has not consulted any other opposition party before announcing anti-government campaign from August 7. He said that the PTI leadership’s solo flight will bear no fruits and will eventually end up with no result and will meet the same fate of 2014’s anti-government movement and sit-in. He said this kind of decision always weaken the opposition and strengthen the government.

He said it was decided in the meeting of the opposition parties that any decision regarding launching anti-government movements or any other strategy would be taken after consulting the leadership of other opposition parties and any decision in this regard would be taken through consensus. He said PTI’s Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Dr Arif Alvi and Dr Shereen Mazari were also present in the meeting when this decision was taken and even non of them were aware about Imran Khan’s decision of August 7’s anti-government movement.

He said when PPP started campaign against former military dictator Ziaul Haq it took all the other opposition parties along with it and as a result of which the movement was successful. There are some elements in PTI which are in haste to get instant result which is not possible in the politics.

Awami Muslim League (AML) head Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad while talking to The News said he will fully support Imran Khan in his campaign against the government.

“The leadership of all the opposition parties would announce their strategy and campaign against the government till 31st of July. No matter if any political party supports or joins Imran Khan’s anti-government campaign or not but they will run anti-government campaign sooner or later.

“I am going to kick off anti-government rally and will hold a public rally on August 13,” commented Sheikh Rasheed.

Talking to The News, MQM leader and Member National Assembly Syed Ali Raza Zaidi said their party would never support any campaign against the government as there is a need to finalise the Terms of References and resolve the issue on table through dialogue rather than on the streets.

“PTI is playing in the hands of PPP and by doing this it is damaging its repute as a political party. Instead of launching any anti-government campaign and moving the masses on road, it should resolve the issue on dialogue table, “commented Syed Ali Raza.

“There is deadlock between the government and opposition parties only on one point. The opposition parties want to start inquiry of PanamaLeaks from prime minister whereas the government says since prime minister’s name is not in the list therefore the sons of PM should be inquired not the PM himself. “We too endorse the government stance and demand all the parties to build consensus on Terms of References rather than launching anti government movements,” he said.

He said their party will never support any such movement against the government which could derail the democratic process and demand to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

On the other hand, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) without hinting whether they would join Imran Khan in his anti-government campaign or not have stressed for unity in the opposition.

In a statement issued by PML-Q Secretariat the PML-Q Chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain demanded unity of all opposition parties. He said all the political parties should be united on one platform otherwise it would be in favour of the government if there is no unity in the opposition parties’ ranks.