ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was, on Tuesday, clearly looking for support from likeminded political parties to counter the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s long march, which is expected to roll into town on Independence Day.

As PTI chief Imran Khan made it clear that his party wanted to depose Mr Sharif, the PM, in an afternoon meeting with heads of other political parties in the National Assembly, sought outright support against what the government believes is an ‘undemocratic’ movement launched by the PTI and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek of Dr Tahirul Qadri.

According to a statement released after the meeting by the PM’s Office, “the current political situation came under discussion, during which all leaders agreed to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and preserve the supremacy of democracy and parliament.”

Know more: PML-N, PTI gear up for Aug 14

It went on to say, “The government and opposition would play their role in strengthening the system and resolve their mutual issues with consensus.”

Meets PPP, JUI-F, PkMAP and QWP leaders

Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PkMAP president Mehmood Khan Achakzai, QWP chief Aftab Sherpao, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq attended the huddle.

Saying that the mood in the meeting was a pleasant one, a government official told Dawn the participants sounded concerned about the PTI’s demonstration and the possible repercussion this would have on the overall political situation. In the meeting, the government source added, political party heads were curious about the government’s plans and wanted to know whether they would let Mr Khan gather people in the capital and lock it down for days.

In response, the prime minister said categorically that the government would abide by the Constitution and law of the land in its treatment of the PTI demonstrators. The PM coolly and calmly assured political leaders that the government had nothing to hide and would not resort to high-handed tactics in a bid to stop the long march.

Mr Sharif reminded the participants how – between 2008 and 2013 – he had withstood pressure from within and without to push the Pakistan People’s Party out of government. “I didn’t buy the argument when people asked me to form a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or hold a vote of ‘no confidence’ against the PPP government in Azad Jammu & Kashmir,” the source quoted the PM as saying.

Another official Dawn spoke to said the government did not seem especially worried by the Azadi March, but was far more concerned about the safety of its participants. “God forbid, if something were to happen during the long march, he (Imran Khan) will blame the government, which is why we’ve been having sleepless nights,” the source said.

Aftab Sherpao confirmed to Dawn that he had met the PM alongside other political leaders to discuss the PTI long march. After the PTI chief’s announcement that he would not settle for less than the PM’s resignation, Mr Sherpao feared the situation had become quite serious for both parties. “If tomorrow, Dr Tahirul Qadri joins hands with Imran Khan, both of them together might create problems for the government,” the veteran politician said.

In a statement issued later, PPP leader Khursheed Shah asked the prime minister to allow the PTI to go ahead with its long march. At the same time, Mr Shah said, “I have asked the prime minister to restrain his ministers from passing controversial statements because that will only spoil the already strained political atmosphere in the country,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2014