Army chief to help end Pakistan’s political crisis

Islamabad, Aug 29 :

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahir-ul Qadri Thursday accepted the role of the army chief as a mediator and guarantor in solving the current political impasse in the country.

Imran Khan and Qadri told the participants of their separate sit-ins here outside the Parliament House that in the next 24 hours, fresh negotiations will begin with the government in the presence of the army as intermediary, Geo News reported last Thursday.

The latest developments occurred following Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s meeting with army chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif.

Nawaz Sharif, who is facing protests from PTI and PAT to step down as prime minister, asked the army chief to play his positive role in the current political situation.

In a speech, Qadri said the “government had to knock the door as a beggar” for seeking the help of Pakistan Army while Imran Khan told his supporters: “We would either celebrate tomorrow or give the call that was to be given today.”

Qadri told his fellow protesters he had been assured that all would be sent packing in case the rigging charges proved right.

Earlier in the day, police registered a murder case against Prime Minister Sharif and 20 others for their alleged involvement in the June 17 police shootout in Lahore’s Model Town area.

Police case number 693/2014 in the record includes the charges of murder, attempt to murder and terrorism, Xinhua reported.

Fourteen party workers, including two women, of Tahir-ul Qadri’s PAT were killed and 84 injured in police firing after their protest turned violent in Model Town.

(IANS)