Imran Khan announced political death of PTI by joining hands with Tahir ul Qadri: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that some elements, through attack on Islamabad, tried to humiliate the democratically elected parliament but due to unity of all political parties they have faced shame and disgrace. He said that he is sure that after Javed Hashmi, several leaders of Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will display the same moral courage so that historians while writing the political history should not count them among enemies of Pakistan and democracy.

He was talking to a delegation of assembly members of Muslim League-N, here today. The Chief Minister said that Imran Khan through collusion with Tahir ul Qadri has announced political death of PTI and it is also a fact that PTI leadership is disgusted with Imran Khan due to his autocratic and undemocratic attitude and is quitting the party raising slogans of ‘Go Imran Go’. He said that the U-turns taken by Imran Khan from long march to sit-in are unprecedented in the political history of Pakistan and that is why he is now politically isolated. He said that the determination expressed by all political parties during the joint session of the parliament to protect democracy and constitution and to uphold law is the voice of the whole nation. He said that indeed this political maturity shown by political parties at this critical juncture of history augur well for the stability of democratic system.

The Chief Minister welcomed the speeches made by political leaders during the joint session of the parliament regarding protection of democratic system and while paying tributes to them said that it is a historic event in the political history of the country. He further said that Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri tried protest politics but the people have given their verdict by rejecting this style of politics. Shahbaz Sharif said that every patriotic Pakistani has strongly condemned the attack on the parliament, Prime Minister House and PTV building. He said that the elements trying to damage democratic institutions should know that if Pakistan faced instability Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri will be held responsible. He said that if Imran Khan really wanted a change in the country, he should have started this process immediately after taking over power in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa in May 2013.

The Chief Minister further said that in democracy, decisions are not made on streets but in parliament and Muslim League-N government has always been in favour of resolving political issues through dialogue. He said that from long march to sit-in the government has displayed patience and restraint at every stage and it will continue to do so in future as well.