ISLAMABAD: Even as furious political back-channelling continued in the capital on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan upped the ante by declaring that his party would proceed with the ‘Azadi March’, come what may.

But at the same time, he warned that if the government didn’t mend its ways, the responsibility for a possible military intervention would lie squarely on the Sharifs’ shoulders.

As the firebrand cricketer-turned-politician laid down his party’s plans for their Independence Day demonstration at a press conference, leaders from the PPP, Jamaat-i-Islami and the ruling PML-N continued consultations, aimed at finding an amicable solution to the prevailing political quagmire.

But Friday’s meetings were not nearly as frantic as those held earlier in the week.

Consultations continue

JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique as part of efforts to find a middle ground between the two parties.

In remarks made after the meeting, Mr Baloch did not divulge too much of what was actually discussed. However, he did say that he would have a discussion with Imran Khan and other concerned players who were trying to find an amicable solution to the current PTI-govt standoff.

The JI leader warned both sides that time was running out and stressed the importance of stepping up efforts to find a practical solution out of this crisis.

Sharifs to be responsible for possible military intervention, warns PTI chief

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also urged the government not to try to stop the PTI long march as it moved from Lahore to Islamabad on Independence Day.

“The government must exhibit sagacity and magnanimity and not try to stop the Azadi March because it is politically impossible for PTI Chairman Imran Khan to call off the march,” Mr Shah said.

His remarks came hours before workers from Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) were tear-gassed and baton-charged on the streets of Lahore.

According to media reports, various quarters are urging the ruling PML-N to replace Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Mr Shah, however, said that a ‘minus one’ formula was not applicable here as no political party would suffer its chief stepping down.

Talking to reporters at his chambers in Parliament House, Mr Shah, who is a key PPP leader, said his party was working to save the system, not the government.

He said both the PTI and the government would have to come to the negotiation table, even after the long march. “But if the government blocks the PTI’s way, it will not be in a position to negotiate,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, PPP spokesperson Farhatullah Babar said his party would not support any unconstitutional move to remove Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “If we say that we will protect the Constitution and democracy, we mean all constitutional offices too,” he said.

PTI roars ahead

While the PTI may be preparing for negotiations with the government behind closed doors, in public they retain their hard line anti-government stance.

“The call for Azadi March is on and now all decisions will be made in front of hundreds of thousands of PTI supporters who will be travelling with me to Islamabad. I will sit there as long as our demands are not met by the government,” Mr Khan told a press conference at his Bani Gala residence.

Repeatedly hitting out at the Punjab government for using police against Dr Tahirul Qadri and his followers, Mr Khan said there was no threat of martial law interrupting the democratic process as a result of his long march. But if the Sharif brothers insisted on fuelling mayhem, anything was possible in this country, he said.

The PTI chief was at pains to clarify that his party’s struggle would remain within constitutional parameters and that they only wanted to help strengthen democracy in the country.

He once again promised to reveal shocking details of alleged rigging, at the behest of the PML-N. “If we [PTI] fail to prove our claims (of electoral fraud) against the government, I will duly offer my apology. Otherwise, the only way forward will be to hold re-elections,” Mr Khan said.

Talking to Dawn off the record, a senior PTI leader said that although parties such as the JI and PPP were actively pursuing both sides, “we have told them to wait until Sunday, when the PTI core committee will meet to take a final decision on the party’s demands”. He said that in politics, parties could not afford to close the door on talks and the PTI wasn’t opposed to ‘meaningful negotiations’.

At his press conference, Mr Khan also unveiled a ‘white paper’ on the government’s one-year economic performance. In the span of one year, inflation had increased from five to nine per cent; electricity tariff had been jacked up by 80pc and the beast of circular debt had reared its head again.

The PTI chief also derided the government for putting the annual growth rate at an inflated 4.1pc, whereas it was actually 3.3pc.

Mr Khan also provided a list of high-end properties in London, which he claimed were owned by the sons of the prime minister.

However, in an official statement issued in response to the white paper, a government spokesperson classified Mr Khan’s revelations as ‘misleading’ and ‘unsubstantiated’.

Published in Dawn, Aug 9th, 2014