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PML-Q dissidents support mid-term polls ‘to save system’

* Chattha says his party ‘extremely concerned’ over deteriorating political situation

By Tahir Niaz

ISLAMABAD: Dissidents of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) said on Thursday they would support mid-term polls if held “to save democracy” in the country.

Addressing a press briefing after the group’s first central executive committee (CEC) meeting, group chairman Hamid Nasir Chattha said the government should not hesitate in “offering sacrifices to save the country and democracy”. He said the rulers would be responsible if the democratic system was disrupted.

Chattha said, “I don’t think the crisis is over. In my view, the rulers are unwilling to trash the controversial NRO and this week is important for any showdown on the ordinance. According to my information the rulers are determined to table another version of the NRO.”

He was flanked by Salim Saifullah Khan, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Humayun Akhtar Khan and Kashmala Tariq.

He said the group would oppose the NRO in parliament. He also said one man could not hold offices of the head of the state and party president at the same time.

Concerned: Chattha said his party members were “extremely concerned” over the country’s deteriorating political situation which was a result of the rulers successive “blunders”.

Kasuri said the government should stop Indian interference in Balochistan. He urged the government to prioritise Pakistan’s interests, instead of focusing on its own agenda. He also supported the military offensive in South Waziristan.

Kasuri said the government should ask US administration to cater the interests of Pakistan while reviewing the Afghan policy.

He said US President Barack Obama should also question India for interfering in Balochistan and FATA. Shrugging away the impression that PML-Q government had allowed drone attacks on Pakistani soil, Kasuri said his government had protected country’s interests and even US envoy was summoned to the Foreign Office when an unmanned drone launched an attack inside Pakistan.

Senator Salim Saifullah said his party would oppose NRO. He said he had grilled MNA Riaz Fatiyana for violating the party policy over the NRO, adding that Fatiyana had assured him to follow party policy in the future.

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