‘Parliament remains proper forum for presenting positions on every issue’

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Punjab President Pervaiz Ashraf has said that protests, sit-ins, and processions are the democratic right of political parties, but must remain peaceful and must not disrupt daily life.

Speaking at a press conference after a Punjab Executive meeting on Monday, Pervaiz urged all parties to make decisions calmly and said Parliament remains the proper forum for presenting positions on every issue. The meeting was hosted by PPP Lahore General Secretary Dr Ayesha Shaukat and attended by senior party leaders, including Syed Hassan Murtaza, Rana Farooq Saeed, Shahzad Saeed Cheema, Faisal Mir and Samina Khalid Ghurki.

Ashraf noted that the day coincided with the birthday of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, which party workers celebrated together. He said the PPP is being strengthened across Punjab and is preparing in earnest for local government elections, adding that “the people of Punjab are our real strength.”

On protests, he said no one should object to the right to demonstrate, but that a sit-in should convey a party’s position without affecting ordinary life. He called Parliament the final and appropriate forum for resolving issues, and cautioned against imposing opinions on others or rejecting them outright.

Turning to the economy, Ashraf said the war between the United States and Iran has affected economies worldwide. As an oil-importing country, he said, Pakistan cannot buy fuel at high global prices and sell it cheaply at home. He welcomed the government’s relief measures but said its mistakes should still be criticised. He urged the speakers to rely on ground realities rather than emotion and described talk of turning Islamabad into Somnath as regrettable.

He said the PPP has held long marches in the past and borne their consequences, but stressed that protecting lives and property is the government’s responsibility. He called on all parties to put the country’s broader interest first.

Ashraf said Pakistan’s challenges exceed its resources and that the country must focus on expanding them and strengthening the economy. He concluded that the PPP has always spoken for the common man and will continue to raise its voice for the people’s rights.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026