LAHORE: The government has decided not to arrest leaders of the August 14 march but keep the situation under control with ‘administrative’ measures, as mediators continued their efforts to broker a truce between the PML-N and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The decision was taken at a consultative meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at his Raiwind residence here on Monday. It was attended by important members of the federal and Punjab governments and senior leaders of the PML-N.

The meeting discussed the marches on Islamabad the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have planned from Lahore on Aug 14.

A participant of the meeting told Dawn that Mr Sharif asked the PML-N leaders and ministers not to get panicked by the protest plans and face the situation in a calm and composed manner.

Nawaz Sharif wants only administrative steps to control situation

According to the participant, the prime minister rejected a proposal to take the leadership of PTI and PAT into custody. “There is no question of arresting the leaders. Rather, we’ll see to what extent they may go,” Mr Sharif was quoted as saying.

He also rejected a proposal to bring PML-N workers on the road as a measure to counter the protests. “A clash between parties should be avoided at all cost,” he said, stressing the use of only administrative measures to keep the situation under control.

Know more: Islamabad district administration says 'no' to PTI march

On Sunday, Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashhood had said the PML-N would bring hundreds of thousands of its activists on the road and lay siege to the Zaman Park residence of PTI Chairman Imran Khan for thwarting his ‘Azadi march’.

A rally of PML-N workers got entangled in a stone-pelting contest with PTI activists while passing by Mr Khan’s residence on Monday evening, but the prime minister immediately intervened and directed his workers to avoid a clash.

Since Lahore will be the epicentre of political activities on Aug 14 because both the PTI’s ‘Azadi’ and PAT’s ‘Inqilab’ (revolution) marches will start from here, the prime minister is also likely to spend the evening in the provincial capital to personally monitor the situation and issue directives to defuse any untoward development. In the morning (of Aug 14), he will attend the main Independence Day ceremony in Islamabad and then fly to Quetta for inaugurating the restored Ziarat Residency of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

MEDIATION: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq, who has been trying to broker a deal to end the conflict between the PML-N and PTI for a couple of days, called on Imran Khan at the latter’s residence on Monday night.

According to a PTI leader, Mr Haq brought a fresh proposal from the government that the party would be given a free hand to proceed with its Azadi march, but its participants would not be allowed to stay in Islamabad for more than a day.

In a TV interview, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the prime minister had allowed the JI emir to hold negotiations with the PTI chief on behalf of the government.

As part of a deal, the government will announce before Aug 14 the opening of the controversial constituencies as demanded by the PTI.

At a function in Islamabad, Prime Minister Sharif again offered Imran Khan an olive branch by announcing his willingness to visit the PTI chief for redressing his grievances.

Shahbaz Sharif also expressed his willingness to meet the PTI chief in the larger national interest, listen to his demands and get them approved from parliament.

APP adds: Addressing a ceremony held in Islamabad to launch the Pakistan Vision 2025 programme, Prime Minister Sharif said no-one would be allowed to sabotage the government’s development agenda.

“The nation has given us a mandate and we do not want to disappoint them by not delivering [on our promises]. People want an end to lawlessness, protection of fundamental rights, end to energy crisis and progress in all areas,” he said.

The prime minister said the nation must decide that democracy and vote were the only way out for Pakistan. “Dictatorship has only brought us misery and trouble. Today the United States, Germany, France and other countries are progressing only because they have democracy.”

Without mentioning the name of Tahirul Qadri, the prime minister said a person from Canada was here with a claim to bring about a revolution in the country. He asked that with his ability to get only 200 votes how could he make tall claims of bringing about a revolution.

“They should have contested the election and come to parliament if they wanted to bring about a change,” he said.

Mr Sharif said he had visited the PTI chief’s residence in the past and was ready to talk to him to resolve all matters amicably.

He regretted that some people were not ready to learn lessons from the experiences of past 65 years and said the country had suffered immensely because of dictatorship that hindered development.

“Who is responsible for sowing the seeds of terrorism in the country; will they be held accountable for it?” he asked.

The prime minister said his government wanted to improve relations with neighbours, including Afghanistan and India, as part of its development plans.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2014