No compromise on democracy: Nawaz
16 January, 2013
LAHORE: A high-level emergency consultative meeting of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) rejected Tahirul Qadri's ultimatum for the dissolution of assemblies and made it clear that there would be no compromise on democracy, supremacy of constitution and rule of law in the country. The meeting, which was chaired by Nawaz Sharif, also made it clear that the party would not let anyone derail the democratic process. Speaking on the occasion, Nawaz said that no "juggler" would be allowed to topple the democratic process and it would be defended and preserved at any cost. He said those who supported dictatorship were now again out against democracy and their agenda would not succeed. The PML-N leadership said the party wanted democracy to thrive and no one would be allowed to derail the democratic process. Meanwhile, JUI -F chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman has said that now when the assemblies are about to complete their tenure and the elections are in the offing, putting pressure through a sit-in for dissolution of the government is not right. According to the state radio, he said it would set a wrong precedent to bring change through street power. Answering a question, Fazl criticised Tahirul Qadri for bringing women and children in the long march. He said they might be used as human shields if the government is forced to take any action. Fazal said there are contradictions in Qadri's words and deeds. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif and Fazl discussed the current political situation on telephone. Nawaz invited the JUI-F chief to participate in PML (N) meeting on Wednesday (today), which he accepted. Moreover, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Munawar Hassan on Tuesday said that constitutional change could be brought about only through elections and they should be held on time. Criticizing Tahirul Qadri's demands and long march, the JI chief said that the masses cannot be deceived through hollow slogans nor a "non-serious and cowardly leadership" can bring about any revolution. Addressing the concluding session of a five-day JI workshop at Mansoora, he said that Qadri cannot be successful in realising his foreign agenda to prevent the silently advancing change in the country. Hassan said that actually the forces opposed to a real change and an Islamic revolution in the country wanted to cause disappointment among the people, but added that the masses would not be befooled through such dramas. End.
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