ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday pledged to prevent any efforts to create an “artificial political crisis” in Pakistan, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plans to launch another anti-government movement after Eid-ul-Fitr.
During a meeting with PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui in Raiwind, the former three-time prime minister stated, “The people of Pakistan will no longer allow anyone to obstruct the journey of development and progress.”
Following the collapse of talks between the government and the opposition, PTI has intensified efforts to form a grand opposition alliance. PTI founder Imran Khan has instructed party members to fast-track discussions with other opposition groups to plan protests after Eid.
In April of the previous year, PTI had formed a multi-party alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, with parties such as Sunni Ittehad Council, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen. Now, PTI is reportedly bringing former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi into its fold for the movement.
Imran Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, revealed that the PTI’s strategy involves forming a broad opposition alliance aimed at restoring the constitution and democracy in the country.
In response, Nawaz Sharif criticized the PTI leadership, saying they were “incapable of holding serious negotiations and lack political understanding.” He added, “Had the journey of development that began in 2013 continued, there would have been no need for the IMF or external assistance today.”
Praising the performance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government, Nawaz Sharif emphasized that the country is “once again standing on its feet.” He called for exposing the intentions of those attempting to spread chaos inside and outside Parliament and urged PML-N parliamentarians to maintain strong communication with the public.
Since Imran Khan’s ouster from power, PTI has organized several anti-government protests, although they were often disrupted due to violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement.
