PML-N losing power in centre: Aitzaz Ahsan

KARACHI: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has nearly lost its authority in the centre, while its prime minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, has no individual standing in the party, said Leader of Opposition in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan.

While speaking on Geo News' Capital Talk, the senator referred to the sit-in at Faizabad interchange and said decisions regarding dispersing the protesters were not taken at PM House.

He added after talks were held, an officer was seen distributing envelopes to the protesters, “a site no one had imagined would ever be seen”.

However, Aitzaz said, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif claimed to have solved the matter, even though his province was where the issue originated from. 

According to the senator, the protesters came to the federal capital after holding talks with the Punjab government.

Nevertheless, he said, his party — Pakistan Peoples Party — was clear on their stance throughout the sit-in. “We were of the view that the entire matter should be discussed in the Parliament."

Regarding Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi using Article 245 of the Constitution, Aitzaz said it was the right of the federal government, which they used. But, he added, the army had their own conditions when the arrived.

As per Article 245, the armed forces, under directions of the federal government, shall defend Pakistan against threats and act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so. 

Earlier, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal had stated that the operation to disperse protesters at Faizabad was launched without the ownership of the political leadership. 

The interior minister said the executive was not given time to execute its responsibilities. However, he was of the view that certain political and religious parties politicised the issue regarding the law, which led to the protest at Faizabad Interchange, which created problems for the government. 

However, the three-week-long sit-in, which had paralysed the federal capital, was called off on November 27 after protesters reached an agreement with the government.

The agreement was reached following the voluntary resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid.