PESHAWAR: Leaders of various political parties on Monday criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan over the announcement of civil disobedience movement in the country and resignations of party members from the assemblies.

They declared the two steps extremely unserious, which, they said, could lead the country to anarchy.

Pakistan People’s Party Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Khanzada Khan told Dawn that as the head of a political party, Imran Khan had committed a serious mistake by deciding on civil disobedience movement and resignations of party members from the assemblies, especially when the country faced multiple problems due to terrorism, economic crisis and political polarisation.

He said Imran’s party ruled the province but it had miserably failed to deliver, so the chief minister was morally bound to quit.

“We are here to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, strengthen democratic institutions and discourage any move against democratic system in the country,” he said, urging Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri of Pakistan Awami Tehreek to reconsider their call for the ouster of the federal government and thus, helping the country out of political crisis.

Parties say move could lead country to anarchy

The PPP leader the decision of civil disobedience movement was a big letdown and that the PTI Azadi March in Islamabad had failed to achieve its goal.

He said being an elected representative, the PTI chief was bound to express his opinion in the National Assembly.

“All political parties will remain united against any undemocratic step as in the prevailing situation, democracy is the only solution,” he said.

Khanzada said the rallies needed to end as they had made lives of the people miserable.

Similarly, Pakistan Muslim League-N central senior vice president Engineer Amir Muqam said giving a call for civil disobedience was no service to the nation and that it was rather treason against the state.

“The civil disobedience call is given against the state and not against the government but Imran Khan doesn’t understand as he has no political know-how,” he said, adding that a cricket player (Imran Khan) couldn’t compete with seasoned politicians.

Muqam, who is also the adviser to the prime minister, said businessmen, political parties and general public had already rejected Imran’s call for civil disobedience because it was against the country’s interests.

He said by deciding on quitting assemblies, the PTI was insulting the nation as its representatives, who had secured votes, had failed to fulfil their duties.

The PML-N leader asked Imran to avoid hollowing foundations of the country and said in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI leaders were enjoying protocol, perks and privileges but were not ready to quit government offices.

He said the government would announce by-elections on all seats vacated by PTI but it would not succumb to any unconstitutional pressure.

“Nawaz Sharif is an elected prime minister. He will continue in the office for the next four years too,” he said.

Also, Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao came hard on Imran Khan for deciding on civil disobedience movement and resignations of party lawmakers from the assemblies.

The QWP leader said the PTI chief’s decision was a face saving bid for his government in the province, which had failed to serve the people.

He said PTI lawmakers was morally bound to serve the people, who had voted for them during the last elections and that the decision to quit assemblies was an unwise step on part of the PTI and therefore, it should be reconsidered.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2014