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After PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s call for a civil disobedience movement (with a two day deadline for the government to pack up or face consequences), a political frenzy burst forth on TV screens and social media.
Below is a summary of some of the top reactions by Pakistan’s politicians.
[HR][/HR]What the PML-N thinks
[HR][/HR]Finance Minster Ishaq Dar:
“Imran Khan’s movement is unconstitutional…The country is making progress, he needs to reconsider his call for civil disobedience. This is a very serious matter.“
Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal:
“Pakistan is a constitutional country and cannot afford anarchy…This is an anarchist approach, it will be self-defeating. We are making a case for the enemies of Pakistan by talking about spreading chaos and anarchy.”
PML-N MNA Marvi Memon:
“There is absolutely no chance that Nawaz Sharif will resign as prime minister.”
Federal State Minister for Water & Power Abid Sher Ali:
“Political issues need to be resolved through dialogue… We will not let the people take an unlawful approach.”
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed:
“Imran Khan’s sit-in is nothing more than a joke… There is no way that his civil-disobedience announcement can be implemented.”
PML-N leader Mushahidullah Khan:
“Such measures are normally seen in colonies but there is no concept of such tactics in a democratic country with a Constitution.”
[HR][/HR]What other parties think
[HR][/HR]ANP leader Zahid Khan:
“Imran Khan was sounding extremely confused in his speech.”
ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan:
“I don’t think there is going to be any serious head-on collision between the two sides… The situation can only be resolved when both sides come to an agreement.”
Former interior minister Rehman Malik:
“All political parties want peace in the country…The PPP is ready to help resolve the situation. The government needs to look to Imran Khan’s demands and resolve the issue through talks.”
National Party leader Mir Hasil Bizenjo:
“Talks of civil disobedience movement is just hot-air, and if Imran Khan tries to enter the Red zone then anything can happen.”
PPP Senator Aitzaz Ahsan:
“Imran Khan has simply given a threat.”
[HR][/HR]What politicians on Twitter think
Maryam Nawaz Sharif@MaryamNSharif](https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif) Follow
I am glad IK helped ppl realise NS is the only leader who has the wisdom & ability to steer Pak out of this mess. Now go home & let him work
And plz somebody tell IK to stop quoting cricket terms this much. This is a country we have to run and politics need a lot of patience and wisdom. But well, when somebody has sheikh rasheed on one side and jamshed dasti on the other, wut good can one expect:
Nadeem F. Paracha [COLOR=#B1BBC3]@NadeemfParacha](https://twitter.com/NadeemfParacha) 29m
Khan Saab is certainly not as good with a mic as he was with a cricket ball. Please take it away from him. For his own good.
Imran declared 48 hrs civil disobedience, but the government still not willing to take him lightly. Ch. Nisar announced two different committee to negotiate with both PTI and PAT individually.
Anything to avoid the Red Zone crossing from taking place.
waleed…do you realize inherent contradiction in your statements?
on one end you keep posting that no one can observe civil disobedience in today’s age and it is parctaiclaly impossible and in the very same post you also declare that civil disobedience is to increase pressure on PMLN…
bhai meray if something is practically useless and impossible to implement then how would that tactic be helpful in building pressure?
who are Imran Khan advisers? civil disobedience and that too for a very limited time…how would that work huh? Civi disobedience is launched against a state not a government. There is no practical utility of this announcement.
Crossing red zone should be viewed in context of reputation of Pakistani state…you dont want bloodshed to happen close to ambassadors’ residences.
IK is cornered really bad. It is hard for him to accept govt package which will be exactly the the same which he was offered before he started the march.
It was embarrassingly wrong choice of word. Civil disobedience even for even seven days is a joke. He could’ve just said that I am giving the government another certain days or hours to listen to my demands, and that’s it.
I’m beginning to suspect that original call was to cross the Red Zone, luckily someone intervened at the last minute, asked Imran to change his plan and wait for Qadri’s move which I totally support and I would’ve given him the same advice if were his consigliere. But they wanted to the keep the crowd charged and engaged so they thought let’s throw in the word civil disobedience .
Notice how Nawas League is not feeling relived by this call at all. They are still adamant about solving this crisis as quickly as possible through negotiations. No more ‘ah the march will now fizzle on its own’ nonsense.
Moeed Pirzada
Imran Khan has played very cleverly. Civil Disobedience is a very popular and alarming concept in West and Pakistanis don’t even know what does it mean. By announcing a symbolic Civil Disobedience movement he means to attract west and other world powers. Now all international newspapers/media will flash this news. And Nawaz Sharif will not be able to bear the pressure. It’s a pressure building tactic.
aap kaya baat kar rahay hain sheeda jee? complete rubbish…Moeed sometimes talks like an idiot but West is not idiot. Western political commentators know very well what civil disobedience means and what is its contextual significance…civil disobedience is launched against a foreign occupation or a dictatorship not against a democratically elected govt …and a civil disobedience for 7 days?..what does that mean? that is a joke. You think western commentators/international medai all of them are idiot? If anything PTI should have used a better term.
They were hoping that in monsoon rain this crowd will disperse and dharna will be a flop. This has been their delaying tactic to see which way the clouds move. Unfortunately for them it didnt rain today and todays crowd was largest and most charged up yet.
I still believe that if Imran Khan achieves sweeping reforms to our corrupt electoral process as a result of this march that will be a huge accomplishment and our future generations will owe this to Imran…equivalent to what imran achieved by bringing neutral umpires to cricket.
free media, free courts, and a free electoral process are key to developing good institutions…
i am just afraid that with all of this hoop lala, the topic of electrical reforms will be forgotten.