Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday said that any solution to the ongoing political deadlock should be within the limits of the constitution.
The political leaders met for lunch at the premier’s Raiwind residence as Zardari reached Lahore from Karachi. The two discussed the ongoing political stalemate induced by the protests led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in the federal capital over a sumptuous lunch that included Zardari’s favourite vegetarian dishes as well as the traditional biryani and qorma.
In a press conference of PML-N representatives held after the meeting of the political leaders, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the prime minister and Zardari are in agreement that any step taken should be within the limits of the constitution.
“Zardari has fully supported PM Nawaz... for the supremacy of the constitution and democracy,” he said.
He said that the two discussed Pakistan’s overall economic direction which has been stalled due to the ongoing protests and maintained that they need to resume. “Pakistan is experiencing financial losses because of this deadlock…the cancellation of trips by heads of state, postponement of the IMF review as well as the delay in finalising details for the Dasu project is happening due to this,” he said.
“This is why our party has shown flexibility,” Dar said. “All parties except PTI have agreed that they will hold the Constitution supreme,” he said
Dar also said that Nawaz has thanked Zardari for his support and added that representative from different parties are welcome to discuss the matter with PTI but that any solution should be within constitutional limits. “There is no compromise on extra legal steps.”
When asked what the PPP leader had to say about Imran Khan’s demand that the premier resign, Dar responded by saying: “Zardari sb is clear on this – there is no question of the prime minister’s resignation.”
At the press conference, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that Zardari had pledged at the meeting that his party will not support any extra-constitutional measures to resolve the crisis.
Elaborating on the former PPP chairman’s engagements on the matter, Asif said after the meeting, Zardari had gone to Mansoora to meet with the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leadership after which the PPP leader will meet with some Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) leaders.
Railways Minister Saad Rafique said today’s meeting was testament to the fact that both PML-N and PPP were committed to strengthening democracy.
Rafique said the present attack is not on the government but on the Constitution and the Parliament.
“We value the fact that Asif Zardari came over to discuss the matter ... sense has prevailed...Imran Khan should learn from the political sagacity here,” he said.