ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) on Wednesday announced to hold nationwide protests against the incidents of violence against its leaders Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Sher Afgan Niazi, MQM women legislators and lawyers.
"I warn that no one should take our restraint as weakness as we are striving to uphold the norms of tolerance and reconciliation; we would also hold protest demonstrations against the FIRs being registered against the PML workers; our lawmakers would hold protests inside and outside the assemblies; the PML bodies would hold protests at all the districts, while the provincial assemblies boycott will continue," said PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain while addressing a press conference here at the PML House after presiding his party Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting.
He alleged that the PML-N leadership was involved in manhandling of Dr Sher Afgan, saying that Shahbaz Sharif was acting as "de facto" chief minister of Punjab. Flanked by Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, senator Tariq Azeem, Amir Muqam, Nisar Memon and others, Shujaat told journalists that the CEC also formed a committee, comprising Gohar Ayub Khan, senators Nisar Memon, Akram Zaki and S M Zafar and MNA Kashmala Tariq to hold meetings with diplomats of EU, Commonwealth and other countries and apprise them of the violence meted out to the PML leaders.
When asked why the Q-League wanted to take the domestic issues to the international community, Shujaat said the PML would only apprise the diplomats with the real facts so that the western diplomats could identify the real culprits involved in the acts of violence. "During our government, they had been meeting to us in support of the opposition of that time," he added.
He also hinted at unification of PML factions, saying that the PML-F leader Pir Sahib Pagaro had urged all the factions to unite under one banner. Meanwhile, former Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim said the media had fully exposed the perpetrators involved in acts of violence against him. "When we were in the government, we were against the proactive role of the media. However, now we have realised the importance of the media," he said.
Dr Arbab alleged that for the first time in the political history, the assemblies had become "No Go Areas` for opposition leaders. Urging the PPP and PML-N to implement the Charter of Democracy in true letter and spirit, he reminded both the parties that they had agreed to promote politics of restraint and reconciliation. "They should tell that whether the politics of restrain and reconciliation only for both the parties or will they tolerate their political opponents," he questioned.
Dr Arbab claimed that as Sindh Chief Minister, he never used derogatory language against PPP Chairperson Shaheed Benazir Bhutto. "Rather, I had extended favours to Benazir Bhutto and Hakim Ali Zardari in many cases. However, political statements are issued and difference of opinion is right of every citizen," he said.
Senator Nisar Memon said negative trend of violence should be stopped forthwith; otherwise, the government would be responsible for consequences," he said. Earlier, the PML CEC meeting was held with its president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in the chair. The meeting through a resolution condemned violence against Sindh PML President Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, former Federal Minister Dr Sher Afghan Niazi, MQM women legislators and lawyers.
The PML-Q asked all concerned to take necessary action to apprehend the culprits and their perpetrators to assure people that political parities and new administration in the provinces and federal governments shall function as per rule of law".
The PML CEC meeting calls for boycott of all government functions until satisfactory resolution of these events. Moreover, the meeting resolved to protest at all forums on all occasions with black bands."
The meeting urged all its parliamentarians to boycott the provincial assembly sessions, besides calling upon all political parties and civil society to raise their voice against the violation of fundamental and human rights.
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