Four-party alliance to press for PM Sharif's resignation

LAHORE: Alliance of four political parties – Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Sunni Ittehad Council, Muttahida Deeni Mahaz, and Pakistani Awaami Tehreek (PAT), has called for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to step down after Panamagate verdict by the Supreme Court.

This was stated in a joint statement on Sunday after a meeting presided over by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.

According to the statement, the alliance of four parties was approved in the meeting while a committee has been constituted to establish contacts with other political parties. The four-member committee comprises Tariq Bashir Cheema, Khurrum Nawaz Gandapur, Hamid Raza, and Nasir Abbas.

The statement said that the Prime Minister has been facing corruption charges and he could not continue his office as he lacks moral jurisdiction to stay on the position.

The alliance also vowed to support the lawyers’ movement. It said that an impartial investigation by joint investigation team (JIT) is ‘inherently absurd’ in presence of Nawaz Sharif as the premier.

The statement further urged the JIT report should be made public after 15 days along with the report of Model Town tragedy in which 14 people died and other 100 injured.

Emir JI Siraj-ul-Haq meets Shujaat Hussain

Separately, Amir Jamaat Islami (JI) Siraj-ul-Haq called on Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain at his residence in Lahore today (Sunday).

Talking to media after the meeting, Chief Jamaat Islami (JI) Siraj-ul-Haq claimed that the supreme court judges were not convinced with the evidences that were provided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during the apex court proceedings while two of them dissented and noted that the premier was no more ‘honest’ and ‘trustworthy’.

He further said that the premier should resign on moral grounds and the top court has found the premier guilty under Article 62 and 63 of the constitution.

It should be recalled here that in wake of Panamagate verdict, the political parties have intensified their campaigns and all major opposition parties demanding resignation of the premier.