PTI should negotiate on table or come to parliament if it wants elections: Rana Sanaullah
ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah has warned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of severe consequences if it decided any aggression or sit-in, saying that conduct of premature elections could not be linked with any aggression as the only way for such decision was to negotiate it on the table or come to parliament.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, he said that the government along with the nation would take action with full force against those who wanted any unrest or anarchy in the country. “Pressure groups would not be allowed at any cost because permission to them means setting future course of action or precedent to challenge the writ of the State,” he added.
The minister said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had managed the by-election on October 16 with responsibility and neutrality and the PTI would have to accept the mandate given to its opponent political parties by voters rather than maligning them.
He said that the PTI secured overall 547,652 votes against all seats during the by-elections while its opponent political parties got 475,037 votes. “ If Imran Khan wants from us to accept the decision of 547,000 voters then he would have to accept the decision of 475,000 persons who voted in our favour,” the minister said.
Rana Sanaullah said those who voted against the PTI are also patriotic and it’s unfair to use derogatory language against them. “The results of free and fair elections should be accepted as per democratic attitude and vote to be respected while decisions of voters should be honored,” the minister said, adding that they would not allow attitude of disrespecting the votes of the PTI’s opponents.
He said conduct of by-elections is a testimony to the fact that the institutions are fulfilling their responsibilities within the constitutional ambit. He said ECP especially deserves appreciation for conducting the by-polls in a responsible and impartial manner.
"We faced imprisonment during our political struggle for democracy but Imran Khan came to Parliament from cricket ground and he could not know what sacrifices were rendered by other political leadership for democracy. PML-N emerged more strong during this by-election as compared to general elections 2018 and its candidates in Sharqpur and Khanewal secured more votes, he added.
During the next general election, he said, the PML-N would be stronger due to lack of support of provincial governments for PTI. The minister said that PML-N preferred to interests of the states rather than its own politics and came into power through constitutional manner by voting out Imran Khan in a no confidence motion.
"The PML-N led government had to make tough decisions after coming into power because the PTI government put the country on the verge of bankruptcy," the minister said, adding that people might not have voted for them due to inflation, increased prices of electricity and petroleum products.
He said that such decisions were critical to put the economy on the right track and the PML-N led government would manage economy effectively in coming days and to provide relief to people as well.
Responding to a question, Rana Sanaullah said PML-N Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would lead the campaign for next the general elections and the PML-N to emerge victorious in it.
