“We are here to stay”

“Because at that time there was a dictator that controlled the government.
He held those elections…But we said if PPP has got more seats than us then we
will accept that right of the PPP” he said in his address to the National
Assembly.

Political stalemate has continued for the last two weeks with Imran Khan-led
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri’s Pakistan Awami
Tehreek (PAT) refusing to budge from their demand of the Prime Minister’s
resignation over allegations of rigging in last year’s general election and
killing of 14 PAT supporters in Lahore on June 17.

Sharif expressed hope that this phase will pass and Pakistan will be steered
towards prosperity.

The Prime Minister in his address indicated in no uncertain terms that his
government and the present Parliament are here to stay, Dawn News reported.

“We are not going to be diverted by these things. The journey for the
supremacy of Constitution and law in Pakistan will continue with full
determination and God willing there will not be any interruption in it,”
he said.

Sharif said today would be remembered in the nation’s history as a great day
for democracy.

“This great display of strength will always be remembered. It makes me
happy to think that this is the voice of the 200 million people of the
country,” the premier said. Sharif said his PML-N for five years worked with the Pakistan People’s Party
government and supported it to complete its term.

“I visited him (Imran Khan) in the hospital when he was injured and he
congratulated me on winning the polls and said he will play the role of a
constructive opposition,” Sharif told the House. “Imran’s claims were published in the papers as well,” he said,
adding that PTI had reservations but accepted the results of the elections.  “Later, when Imran invited me to Bani Gala, I went and we had a pleasant
discussion. He assured me he is with the government in all steps taken in good
faith,” Sharif said.

The crisis escalated in the last week with thousands of supporters of Khan and
Qadri camping outside the Parliament, demanding the Prime Minister’s
resignation.

Sharif said “if today, we correct ourselves for the way forward, that will
be positive for Pakistan.”

He pointed out that a committee had already been constituted for electoral
reforms and all political forces should sit together and give their opinions.

“This is the triumph of a vision…which is not about
individuals…governments come and go, prime ministers come and go but focusing
on the principle of democracy and Constitution is a victory of the system, of
democracy,” he said.

“I haven’t seen a similar example in the country’s history,” Sharif
told the House, adding that the fact that nine of out ten parties voted for the
resolution supporting democracy was a historic moment for Pakistan.

He also referred to the government’s developmental ventures in his address.

“Our energies should be directed towards Pakistan’s development instead of
what we have witnessed in the recent days,” Sharif said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered PTI and PAT protesters to
clear the Constitution Avenue which also includes a road in front of the apex
court and the Parliament by Thursday.

A five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice
Nasir-ul-Mulk, was hearing a set of identical petitions filed by bar
associations across the country against the PAT and PTI’s sit-ins on
Islamabad’s Constitution Avenue.

According to petitioners, protesters were breaching the rights of the common
citizen which ensure freedom of movement and right of assembly.

After making several observations, the court ordered PAT and PTI protesters to
clear the way in front of the Parliament by Thursday.

The protesters have been sitting in front of the Parliament House and the
Supreme Court building since August 19, making the road impassable for government
employees.

The order came as the clock ticked on a 48-hour ultimatum given by Qadri on
Monday for the Prime Minister to step down.