LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has claimed that PTI’s leaders Asad Qasier and Fawad Chaudhry approached the government for talks two days ago soon after Imran Khan announced the date of the long march.
Addressing a press conference, Maryam Nawaz said that PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq was “approached” by the PTI leaders.
“PTI wanted a face-saving and wanted the government to announce a date for election even if it meant the government stays in power,” she added.
Ayaz Sadiq communicated the proposal to Nawaz Sharif, who turned it down, she said.
The PTI contacted the government once again on Tuesday and Wednesday for the talks and at 10pm on Wednesday PTI’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar and Pervez Khattak arrived at the Speaker House and requested that ’they be given someplace to hold a rally.
Maryam claimed that the government turned down the proposal again, but the matter had already been taken to the Supreme Court, which Wednesday evening ordered the government to allow PTI to hold a rally in H-9.
The court order could have been a face-saving opportunity for the PTI but the party resorted to violence soon after the court order, said Maryam.
Maryam Nawaz claimed that two young PTI workers had died trying to remove barricades when they fell from a bridge and Imran Khan was responsible for their deaths.
She said Imran Khan himself was flying on a helicopter and his family member, including children, were staying in comfort while his supporters had to travel in hot weather.
She declared people had refused to participate in Imran Khan’s movement for seeking power.
In response to a question, Maryam said that the institution should not make the decision to placate people who resort to pressure tactics.
Maryam Nawaz said that if the establishment had decided to follow the constitution and law and to leave political matters to politicians, it was a welcome decision. The power to elect or remove government must lie with the people, she said.
