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ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Senator Aitzaz Ahsan on Monday warned the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan not to take any violent course of action.
Aitzaz Ahsan said that the PTI leader had been approached through several avenues in order to diffuse the rising tensions, including recounting of votes, but it had been in vain which was most regrettable.
The opposition leader said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has no need to worry because Parliament is standing by the government.
Aitzaz said that the prime minister should not create obstacles for peaceful protestors.
“Revolutions are always non-violent so the revolution as announced by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri cannot be genuine in light of his statements against the police,” he said.
Aitzaz added that if any untoward incident took place, the government will not be blamed rather Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri would be held responsible.
“Universally revolutions are brought by purity and without any ambiguity.
“In reality revolution should be brought against those standing by the sides of people calling for revolution,” Aitzaz said in a veiled reference to Sheikh Rashid and the Chaudhry bros.
The opposition leader said that statements given by General Raheel Sharif after General Kayani's retirement said that the army was not in favour of interventions regardless of calls made by Qadri.
Senator Haji Adeel belonging to the Awami National party (ANP) said Islamabad has been turned into a fort owing to the government's actions and added that even his party had reservations accepting the results of the 2013 general elections but had accepted the PTI victory in areas traditionally won by the ANP.
Defending the steps taken by the government, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz central secretary information Senator Mushahidullah Khan said that if the parliament was attacked then even opposition members would accuse the government of not doing enough.
He further said that the PML-N was not even in power when the alleged rigging had taken place.
Senator Mushahidullah claimed that PTI was not the true opposition and had the lust for derailing democracy. He also alleged that Dr Tahirul Qadri was trying to spread anarchy in the country.
Talking about the delay in the decision over verification of votes as per demands of the PTI he said that the matter was the responsibility of the election commission and not the governments.
Every one would have raised objections had the decision been taken by the government.
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Comments (36) Closed
Aug 11, 2014 06:39pm
Well said Aitezaz Ahsan!
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Aug 11, 2014 06:56pm
Revolutions are ALWAYS non violent? Really? French, Russian, Chinese and Cuban revolutions weren't. Although no one is Pakistan is not even close of being a revolutionary leader, I wonder how a person like Aitezaz Ahsan can overlook the violence attached to these famous revolutions. Anyways, it is such a pity that people like Mr. Ahsan are rare to find in Pakistani political setup.
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Aug 11, 2014 07:02pm
PTI is loosing it steam and misdirected ,,,,the biggest beneficiary of the situation is PPP and they want to make sure IK is on path of self destruction , unless there is coup within PTI , Asad alvi is most sensible eve though he is aligned with ..., that is even better for PTI.
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Aug 11, 2014 07:28pm
mr.aitezaz Ahsan is a very senior lawyer, he is not remembering when Nawaz Sharief was backing a march towards Islamabad for Restoration of chief Justice of Pakistan. He should remember all this.
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Aug 11, 2014 07:32pm
Revolutions are not inherently violent. The methods employed and how they are deployed depend on the outcome. Considering the unpredictability of political engagement, revolutions do tend to get dangerously close to violence. The problem is that revolutions require a change in the system instead of some small changes. This threatens those already in power and probably in control of the apparatus that specializes in violence, such as police and army. Going against these groups head on is a recipe for disaster.
To read about how some of the less non-violent revolutions can take place, I would recommend Gene Sharp of the Albert Einstein Institute as the person who point by point identified what exactly to do to bring about change peacefully. His free material was used when the Orange Revolution took place in Ukraine or most of these 'Colour Revolutions". Even Egyptians followed his recommendations to remove Mubarak and even met the guy but make a tactical mistake in trusting the army which Gene Sharp specifically mentions not to do.
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Aug 11, 2014 07:34pm
Who cares what he says?
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Aug 11, 2014 07:53pm
I have no party affiliations and do not support any political party. Aitzaz Ahsan is perhaps the only person who deserves to be in a senior position in the government of Pakistan but of course, because he is from PPP he will not get any senior government job. Come to think of it, even the PPP government did not give him any senior job as in my opinion, he could be a good prime minister. What a shame that PMLN (and PPP) governments do not believe in merit and give jobs to family and friends ONLY.
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Aug 11, 2014 08:05pm
One of the rare politician who probably is not corrupt and I respect. Used by PPP when things turn bad otherwise is sidelined(Zardari probably threatened by him). On the wrong side this time.
Era of family politics need to end. Pakistan need to be given back to the people.
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Aug 11, 2014 08:13pm
Anyone needs his advise? Anyone, anyone?
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Aug 11, 2014 08:32pm
"The opposition leader said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has no need to worry because Parliament is standing by the government."
I have never run into a man so dumb - Prime Minister needs the support of the people not the Parliament.
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Aug 11, 2014 08:46pm
If we need to know state department's opinion on any issue, we can safely read what you said. ...senator Aitizaz
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Aug 11, 2014 08:49pm
Is he finished with the cases against Zardari?
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Aug 11, 2014 08:54pm
Mr Chaudhry, I wish you could give this advise to NS well before. Its too late. They killed innocent people in broad day light. After all you shall also be held accountable for not condemning that.
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Aug 11, 2014 09:17pm
Good to hear you Aitezaz Ahsan. What took you so long.
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Aug 11, 2014 09:49pm
Aitzaz Ahsan is right. The government should let the march go ahead and not try to forcibly stop it. The onus of ensuring that it is non-violent will rest with PTI and PAT. They may be against the government but not anti-state. In fact nobody can doubt their patriotism. However, security forces must protect all sensitive areas because there is a possibility of some terrorist sneaking into the city along with the marchers. Imran Khan should also know that if violence occurs in Islamabad then he will suffer most. I think PML(N) has to learn a lot from Peoples Party about commitment to demoracy.
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Aug 11, 2014 10:25pm
"Aitzaz warns govt and 'revolutionaries' against violence"
Said the guy who was fighting rangers on the streets of Islamabad in a no holds barred match, a few years ago.
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Aug 11, 2014 10:40pm
Aitazaz Ahsan was reponsible for chaos and deaths when he led the rabble during Iftikhar Chowdry long marches. He has no right to criticize Imran Khan.
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Aug 11, 2014 10:53pm
Who is he speaking for - the staus quo? And PTI is supposed to listen to the status quo which is responsible for the current situation. Where were these people hiding for the last 14 months? Arrogance, defiance and ignorance is not a solution to any problem - that they have been pursuing during this time when PTI has been asking for accountability. This corrupt system has seen its days.
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Aug 11, 2014 11:38pm
Political scenario is on full boom in pakistan...its like an indian soup drama...people are enjoying and expecting what will happen next..awesome
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Aug 12, 2014 01:00am
He is 100 percent right.
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Aug 12, 2014 01:42am
Dr. Qadri is setting new traditions of conflict and resistance from the masses but Government is responsible for this. Their heavy handedness forced PAT to the tactics they have resorted to. Law enforcement institutions has been used as tools of oppression in Pakistan for too long. It is about time that Police should not be able get away with the illegal use of their powers. People don't have an alternate to deal with police and state oppression. In the U.S, second amendment to the constitution gives people right to own arms so they can defend their rights. This is an opportunity for the people of Pakistan to get rid of home grown colonialism.
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Aug 12, 2014 01:53am
IK please grow up.
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Aug 12, 2014 02:07am
Too me he was the most respectable poltician in pakistan until he represented yusuf raza and zardari in the court
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Aug 12, 2014 02:42am
Wasn't this guy just brought in from London or usa or wherever he was staying on an invitation from Sharif. isn't he the same guy who was the right hand man for Iftikar chaudhry? why should anyone listen to anything that comes out of his mouth?
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Aug 12, 2014 02:48am
No honest intelligent man of principle would ever accept NS or Zardari as their leader so sorry I have zero respect for any member of PPP or PML-N
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Aug 12, 2014 02:49am
sooner or later revolution is bound to happen in Pakistan for obvious reasons.
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Aug 12, 2014 03:23am
what is he talking about revolutions? is this one of the most brilliant minds of Pakistan as is claimed or he is only twisting facts to sync with the policies of PPP. I have been saying it since long that both PML(N) and PPP have made a pact between themselves to run this country right or wrong blocking other parties to come up. Democracy duh!
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Aug 12, 2014 04:01am
Who is this man? what is his problem? why media is even covering him? does he provide any solution or ever did it before?
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Aug 12, 2014 04:19am
@Jawad 'Era of family politics needs to end'. I believe 95% of Pakistanis would agree with this statement. However, many political parties have turned their party in to family business enterprise. No elections for party leadership or office bearers. Amazingly, many of these leaders talk about 'democracy' in the country, but descourage 'democracy' within party, refuse to hold elections within party, and run their political party as 'dictators'. Pakistan Zindabad.
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Aug 12, 2014 04:45am
I used to respect this guy
Now I dont
With his age he has become short sighted
He gave irresponsible political statement
I doubt his honesty now
Imran khan is righteous,respectful and his intentions stay undoubted
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Aug 12, 2014 05:02am
It is not good when senior Lawyer like Mr. Ahsan gives such statements, why does he always forget to advise government to respect the rights of citizens, liberty, freedom of expression, basic human rights as per the constitution, what about all the corruption due to which the country has reached a point of no return--in the past he supported PPP government now PMN-L government both have proved to be very corrupt and incompetent.
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Aug 12, 2014 05:03am
I never expected Aitezaz to be so na
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Aug 12, 2014 05:14am
This Guy is no revolutionary, how he can he define a REVOLUTION and a REVOLUTIONARY. He should reserve his argument for some court proceedings.
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Aug 12, 2014 05:43am
Aitezaz failed to acknowledge Police brutality & massacre on 17th June, he also did not condemn it even after returning to Pakistan last week,Police high handedness on 10th August also was ignored by him & he is warning the peaceful protesters of PTI and says he is standing by Nawaz Sharif.
PPP's stand is not clear, Khursheed Shah say one thing, Zardar another & now Aitezaz comes up with his own theory.Khursheed Shah says if Democracy is derailed the onus will be on N-League, Aitezaz says if Democracy is erailed the onus will be other protesting Parties and Zardari says he is not protecting Nawaz Government but Democracy.
PPP is standing o cross roads at te moment, they were almost wiped out from Punjab in last year's Elections, they can not stand by some promises made to them by their Masters in past about takin terms, they fail to undrderstand that if they wold not back the poplar movement by PTI which is for the Democracy they have in chance even in Sid & GB in next Elections.
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Aug 12, 2014 05:44am
Agencies must investigate the elections which had been alleged of rigging. Judiciary must be investigated as the statements emanating from them are enough to call for looking into the matter. Judiciary and in particular from Punjab has become controversial in the light variuos actions taken by them. Their releasing criminals on the pretext of 'no evidence' must be investigated. The incompetence of Govt.is visible from the actions they have been taking these days. They rigged the elections by a comprehensive plan where judiciary and bureaucracy was involved this is what one can make out of Imran's press conference. Punjab was a comprehensive target being lucrative base where the administrative machinery was in good control of the Provincial administration. This is very serious and has to be looked into and not to allow culprits get away
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Aug 12, 2014 06:30am
So called non-violent revolutions are hypocritical.They produce more victims,deaths than violent ones in a long run.Look at M.Gandhi,An San Su Chi,Martin Luther King.It is unfortunate fact
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