With the date for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Azadi march drawing near, each day is bringing with it a new set of moves on the political chessboard.
But the questions are becoming more pressing with each controversial move and with every passing day.
Will the government be able to manage the crisis? Is imposing Section 144 in the capital the best possible approach? Will the art of the possible finally yield some results?
Below is a round-up of the day’s political happenings and statements which will be updated in the build-up to August 14.
Govt has crossed limits of tyranny: Qadri
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Saturday announced that his party and supporters would be observing Youm-i-Shuhada on August 10 and would be holding sit-ins across the country.
Speaking to media representatives in Lahore, Qadri said the rulers were willing to harm the country to any degree in order to safeguard their own government.
He said the government had crossed the limits of tyranny and the people were on the receiving end.
Qadri said the government was so cruel that it was not letting PAT workers carry those wounded in clashes with law enforcement personnel to hospitals for treatment.
The PAT chief said the government had closed the borders linking Punjab to Sindh and Balochistan and was taking all measures at its disposal against his party.
'Qadri is destroying peace'
Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood on Saturday said that the government made every effort to speak to Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri but that he was determined to destroy the peace in the country.
“Qadri is inciting violence. He is asking workers to bring wooden sticks with nails fixed at the end — does this happen in any country? The closest comparison to this is the situation in Syria and Libya,” said Mashood, adding that calls for revolution in these volatile countries resulted in civil war and chaos.
He was speaking at a press conference in Lahore, amidst of the current political crises in the country where Qadri and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) have locked horns ahead of Imran Khan’s ‘Azadi’ march.
55 policemen injured in Gujranwala clash
At least 55 policemen were injured in clashes with PAT workers in Gujranwala and were being provided medical treatment in the district headquarters hospital.Eight out of the 55 injured were in a critical condition. The injured policemen include high-ranking police officials.
After the clash, the Awami Tehrik workers set off for Lahore for the August 10 Youm-i-Shuhada. The workers also left a trail of vehicles set ablaze.
PTI denies Imran agreed to call off march for recount on 10 seats
PTI’s Shireen Mazari has denied that the party had agreed to call off the long march in exchange for vote recount on 10 seats.
She added that the party’s demands would be announced by Imran on August 14.
Imran said long march to be called off if recount done on 10 seats: PM
Addressing the country's civilian and military leadership on Saturday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that after meeting with Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq had approached him and had also conveyed PTI’s concerns.Nawaz said that Siraj had told him of Imran agreeing to call off the march if recounting was carried out on 10 seats.
The premier said he was open to discussion on the subject, adding that Imran was welcome for negotiations.
PAT worker injured in Bhakkar clash dies
At least one worker of the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) died in Punjab's Multan district after succumbing to his injuries sustained during a clash in Bhakkar with members of law enforcement agencies.
The PAT worker was injured in Bhakkar and was shifted to Multan's Nishtar Hospital where he died.
