—— Sherry says PTI can’t get ‘Faizyab’ anymore
—— Adds PTI will get “freedom” once they accept responsibility
—— Siddiqui says PML-N ready for negotiations
—— PTI calls for “fact-finding commission” to probe Nov 26 crackdown
ISLAMABAD: The opposition and the treasury benches have traded barbs in the Senate over the late-night crack-down on the PTI supporters during its “do-or-die” protest in Islamabad, with PPP Senator Sherry Rehman saying that the former ruling party took a back seat “because they know they can no longer be Faizyab” — a tacit reference to the alleged support of detained former spy chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid to previous Imran Khan-led regime.
“You [PTI] have launched an attack against the state […] you will get freedom once you accept the re-sponsibility,” the senator said during the session of the upper house of parliament on Thursday.
Rehman asked the Imran Khan-founded party to tender an apology over the violence took place during the November 26 and May 9, 2023, protests. “The Constitution of Pakistan was flouted during the PTI’s tenure,” she said, noting that following their ouster, they even wrote a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to halt its financial assistance to Pakistan.
She asked the opposition party to endure the imprisonment, saying: “What PTI did on May 9 was nev-er done by any political party.”
“Now they have to sit down because they know they can no longer be ‘Faizyab’,” she said.
Meanwhile, PML-N Senator Ifran Siddiqui also lashed out at the PTI saying everyone has a right to stage a peaceful protest but does “a peaceful protest is being held by chanting slogans of Al-Jihad, kill or die?”
Referring to the PTI’s protest in Islamabad last month that turned violent, the ruling party senator said the opposition party neither filed any application nor sought permission for the public gathering.
Speaking about the reported icebreaker meeting between the PTI leaders and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Siddiqui said the PML-N never closed its door on talks.
“We want talks, we are ready for negotiations,” he said clarifying that no formal negotiations have commenced between the PTI and the government.
He also made a sarcastic remark about the talks: “We are hearing from you that the ice is melting [be-tween the government and the PTI]. By the way, snow is falling all around us.”
However, Siddiqui also expressed apprehensions about the prospect of the talks with the PTI, stating that the view of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan regarding parleys is not yet known.
He recalled that the rival parties also held fruitful talks in May 2022 “but after talks, he [Imran Khan] left happily and later refused to negotiate”. “It seems like the perspective of the PTI founder has changed towards us now.” –Agencies
