LAHORE: Former president Asif Ali Zardari has asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to handle the crisis politically as democracy should not be derailed under any circumstances.

“Dialogue, dialogue and dialogue is the only solution to deal with the crisis (in the wake of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s sit-ins in Islamabad). Reservations can only be redressed through dialogue,” the PPP co-chairman told a news conference after paying visits to Nawaz Sharif, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujaat Husain and Pervez Elahi on Saturday.

Mr Zardari, who looked relaxed, was not specific when asked whether he suggested to Nawaz Sharif to resign or not. “Democracy should not be derailed under any circumstances. I am for Pakistan. I am for the parliament… and not for anyone else,” the former president replied.

However, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told reporters after the meeting that Mr Zardari was not in favour of Mr Sharif’s resignation. “It has been agreed upon at the meeting that there is no question of the prime minister’s resignation,” Mr Dar said.

About his meeting with the premier, Mr Zardari said: “I asked Mian Sahib to adopt soft stance and show patience even if someone (an obvious reference to Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri) is not willing to listen.

“In democracy doors are never shut. The dialogue process should continue. One political force should not challenge the other. It is time to resolve all issues by sitting together.”

When asked whether he gave any ‘formula’ to resolve the crisis, he said: “The government will have to make any such formula. Like a doctor I am here to diagnose the ailment and then see how to cure it. I have convened the PPP’s central executive committee meeting on Monday to discuss the matter,” he said, adding that it was his and the parliamentarians’ effort to defuse the crisis.

When his comments were sought on ‘third empire’ as referred by Imran Khan to decide the ongoing ‘match’ between the government and the protesting parties, Mr Zardari said: “There is no third umpire. And if there is any then it will have serious repercussions.”

The former president did not term the demands of Imran Khan or Dr Qadri ‘legal or illegal’.

“At the end of the day the country should benefit from this crisis,” he said and complained that ‘foul language’ was used against him but he never responded to that.

When asked whether he advised Mr Sharif to become president to avert the crisis, he said with a smile, “Why I should give him this suggestion as I can become president”.

Earlier, Mr Zardari along with PPP leaders Khursheed Shah, Raza Rabbani, Aitzaz Ahsan and Rehman Malik met Mr Sharif at his Raiwind residence. Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Abdul Qadir Baloch and Saad Rafique also attended the meeting.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was conspicuous by his absence.

A source in the PML-N said since Shahbaz Sharif had used ‘indecent language’ about Mr Zardari in the past he was advised to better stay away as the media would taunt further.

Ishaq Dar said the government had shown extreme flexibility and all the six demands of PTI had practically been met.

“Mr Zardari has assured his full support to the government in resolving the crisis within the ambit of the constitution and law,” he said, adding that it had been proposed in the meeting that the parliamentarians of other parties (not PML-N) could hold negotiations with the protesting parties.

He said Nawaz Sharif had thanked Mr Zardari for his visit. Qadir Baloch said the talks with the PTI and PAT had reached the point where their leadership had to take decision.

PML-Q senior leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi said: “We have told Mr Zardari that PAT’s sit-in in Islamabad will certainly derail the Sharifs and not democracy. If the Sharifs are derailed it will only because of their undemocratic behaviour.”

He said since the PML-Q was an ally of the PAT the sit-in would continue till resignation of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif.

“Mr Zardari has also endorsed that Model Town tragedy was great oppression and the effected people should be given justice,” he said.

“We have asked Mr Zardari to support the demands of registration of an FIR and establishment of the national government,” Mr Elahi said.

Mr Zardari is the first PPP supremo who visited the Jamaat-i-Islami headquarters at Mansoora after about four decades. JI chief Sirajul Haq said after the meeting: “We have suggested that the prime minister should resign if found guilty of rigging in the May 2013 elections by the Supreme Court’s commission.”

“We have told Mr Zardari that the two parties should be given an honourable way to resolve the issue. The PML-N and PTI would have to go one step back to resolve the crisis. It is a good sign both Supreme Court and the establishment have so far distanced themselves from the crisis,” Sirajul Haq said.

JI senior leader Liaqaut Baloch termed Mr Zardari’s visit to Mansoora a positive development. “All mainstream political parties are together to protect the constitution and democracy.”

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2014