The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday condemned the government for mishandling the protest sit-in in Islamabad and using force against the peaceful protestors belonging to the Tehreek-i-Labaik Yah Rasool Allah. Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mahmood-ur-Rasheed said that the government has failed to handle the protest in Islamabad and hence it should resign and announce new elections. He said the situation is out of control and the PTI will take up the issue in Punjab Assembly on Monday.
According to him, Khatam-e-Nebuwat is a part of their faith and the government has shown complete incompetence in resolving the matter. The use of force against the protesters will not resolve the issue and the government should not have closed the negotiation doors. "The government should have exposed the conspiracy hatched against Khatam-e-Nebuwat. The people will not remain silent till the culprits are punished for their crime," he added.
PTI senior leader Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary said the government should show restraint with the protestors as the country cannot afford any kind of tragedy. He further said that Khatam-e-Nebuwat amendment was carried out under the supervision of Federal Law Minister and hence he should resign immediately.
"If the Law Minister is willing to tender his resignation, then why the government is stopping him," he added. He was of the view that use of force in Islamabad is no solution to the current standoff between the government and the protestors. He believed that mishandling of the situation by the government has ignited country-wide protests. "The government has reinstated the Khatam-e-Nebuwat law, but it has taken no action against the people responsible for the amendment," he added.
He demanded that the Raja Zafarul Haq report should be made public. He also demanded the resignation of the government and announcement of new elections immediately. PTI Central Punjab President Abdul Aleem Khan showed grave concern over the latest development in the country. He said the government has shown complete incompetence in handling the situation in Islamabad and hence it should pack its backs and go home. He further said the government has once again proved that it is incapable of protecting the country and its people.
"To protect an individual, the government has put the country at stake. The entire country is in the grip of protest while the Interior Minister is claiming that they are implementing the orders of courts," he added. He urged the protesters to remain calm and peaceful, and refrain from damaging government buildings. He also stressed the Prime Minister to reclaim the trust of people.
Other PTI leaders including Muhammad Shoaib Siddiqui, Zaheer Abbas Kokhar, Ijaz Dyal, Jamshaid Iqbal Cheema and Khalid Mahmood Gujjar also condemned the government for using force against the peaceful protestors. They said the government should show patience and refrain from playing with the people's religious sentiments. "The government should resolve the matter through a negotiation with the protestors," he added. "If the situation further deteriorates, the government will be responsible for it," he added.
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