Displeased Nawaz questions ministers over failed Faizabad operation

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif Tuesday expressed displeasure over the botched Faizabad operation early Saturday, inquiring key ministers of his party about the alternate plan after police and paramilitary personnel failed to disperse the protesters.

The former premier chaired an informal consultative meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders on Tuesday where he discussed, among other matters, the government’s handling of the Faizabad sit-in.

The meeting, held at Punjab House, had Maryam Nawaz, Raja Zafarul Haq, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Talal Chaudhry, Danial Aziz, Pervaiz Rashid and others in presence.

The participants held consultation over agreement with Islamabad protesters and the situation arising following the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid, and deliberated over the measures to be taken next.

According to sources, the meeting held discussions over references against the Sharif family, the former premier's departure to London and a mass mobilisation campaign.

The participants also reviewed Senate's rejection of a proposed constitutional amendment pertaining to delimitation of new constituencies in the country.

Iqbal briefs Nawaz on Islamabad sit-in

According to sources, Nawaz also separately met with Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and the ministers briefed the party leader on Islamabad sit-in.

Sources said the former premier expressed displeasure at the government’s ‘failure’ in handling the weeks-long Faizabad sit-in and the ensuing operation, which resulted in 200 injuries in Islamabad and prompted countrywide protests.

He inquired Iqbal about details of the 22-day-long protest in Islamabad, sources said. The former premier questioned who had been supporting the protesters and who finalised points of the agreement with them.

"Why wasn't the provision of all the resources ensured before the operation at Faizabad Interchange and what was the alternate strategy in case of failure," sources quoted Nawaz as inquiring the two ministers.

Iqbal responded Nawaz's queries saying that he would apprise him of the details in person.

'Prime ministers not treated well in this country' 

During a talk with party workers, Nawaz said that in Pakistan, the elected prime ministers are removed, hanged, arrested or exiled. 

"Nowhere else does this happen," he told party supporters, according to sources. 

The former premier said countries prosper through democracy, adding that none have progressed while being led by dictators. 

The PML-N president vowed to work with other political parties and workers to safeguard democracy.

Mass mobilisation drive

It has been learnt that the former premier made announcement at the meeting regarding continuing the mass mobilisation campaign and said it would not be postponed in any case.

He directed for summoning a meeting of the PML-N's central executive council (CEC) and organising rallies in southern Punjab.

Party members suggested the former premier to hold a rally either in Bahawalpur or Rahim Yar Khan, besides public meetings in Multan and Peshawar.

Sources said it was decided at the meeting that Nawaz would leave for London after a rally in Quetta on December 2.

The former premier will address rallies in other cities after his return to country.

On the other hand, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai also met Nawaz today and apprised him about contacts with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

'Faizabad sit-in would have resulted in riots had it continued for another 24 hours'

Meanwhile, the interior minister said the agreement between government and protesters for ending the protest was not desirable, but there was little choice for if the situation had persisted another 24 hours, then it would have resulted in riots.

"The civilian and military leadership acted collectively to save the country from the threat of religion-based violence. We must heal wounds to unite the nation," Iqbal said in a tweet Tuesday evening.