LAHORE: The Pakistan People’s Party apprehends intervention by “third umpire”, a reference to the establishment, in case the PML-N government fails to resolve the prevailing political crisis.

The PPP also doubts the government’s intention to accept Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan’s demand for a judicial commission to audit 2013 elections.

“The Nawaz-government wants to exhaust Imran Khan. Therefore, it is delaying constitution of the commission. But we fear if the PTI protest continues and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif does not act to defuse the situation, then the possibility of third umpire’s intervention cannot be ruled out,” PPP Secretary General Sardar Latif Khosa told Dawn here on Monday.

Also read: Siraj warns of ‘third force’ intervention

“If Nawaz Sharif thinks that after appointment of Gen Raheel Sharif as army chief his government is safe and he (Gen Sharif) will let the country face the political turmoil for an indefinite period, he is seriously mistaken. The Nawaz-government will be sent packing if it does not show seriousness in resolving the crisis,” he said, adding it was the government which had to show flexibility to defuse the crisis instead of waiting for things to happen.

“Why the government is delaying constitution of the commission since Imran Khan has withdrawn his demand of PM’s resignation,” he asked.

Mr Khosa said the audit of the 2013 election was not only the demand of the PTI but also of the PPP.

“It was the PPP that had first pinpointed that the last year’s elections were massively rigged and fingers were pointed at the role of returning officers (ROs).

Why the government is reluctant to open four constituencies (for scrutiny) on PTI’s demand?” he asked and said former president Asif Ali Zardari had already asked.

Nawaz Sharif to act like prime minister and not a monarch. “The prime minister should better act on this advice and he will not have to face such crisis again,” he said.

The PPP circles also fail to understand as to why the premier could not rein in his party’s hawks who sound more like opposition leaders than ministers even at the peak of the current crisis.

“The PPP can’t comprehend the attitude of some ministers. It will be better if Nawaz Sharif sacks his ministers like Pervaiz Rashid and Saad Rafique if he wants to bring down the political temperature. Such ministers are adding insult to the injury,” Mr Khosa said.

PPP Punjab president Manzoor Wattoo said if both the government and the PTI were finding it hard to reach an understanding on terms of reference with regard to constitution of judicial commission they should better consult senators Aitzaz Ahsan and Raza Rabbani.

Mr Wattoo hoped the judiciary could help resolve the crisis.

Published in Dawn December 16th , 2014