28 August 2014

Nawaz Sharif offered deputy PM post: Imran Khan

Aug 28, 2014 

Nawaz Sharif

Pakistan Opposition leader Imran Khan on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had offered him the deputy PM’s post, an offer which he had rejected.

He also announced a complete suspension of dialogue with the government until Mr Sharif’s resignation.

Mr Khan insisted he is a democratic man and that he hasn’t done a thing that is undemocratic.

Mr Sharif earlier in the day said that no one will be allowed to derail democracy and violate the Constitution.

“Those who try to derail democracy and Constitution will be held accountable. No will be allowed to derail the democratic process and violate the Constitution”.

Addressing the National Assembly, the PM said his government represent mandate of 200 million people in the House. “Almost entire Parliament voted in favour of democratic process and we will fight against all obstacles in the way of democracy”, he said.

Mr Sharif lauded all segments of society for supporting democracy. He thanked the Parliament for overwhelming support for the democratic set-up.

Mr Sharif said demanding accountability of the government is the right of the people and the Opposition but insisted that he will never betray confidence of the House.

He said ongoing political turmoil has damaged national economy and stock markets have suffered because of the ongoing protests.

“The PM and his close aides have considered but rejected the unrealistic demands of (Pakistan Awami Tehrik leader) Tahir-ul-Qadri”, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

The Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf and PAT workers have started digging graves at the sites of their sit-ins in front of the Parliament House here. The two parties have been staging sit-ins for the last several days demanding Mr Sharif’s resignation.

Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered to completely clear all the routes leading to the Supreme Court by Thursday as PTI and PAT protesters failed to abide by an earlier order.

Stepping up pressure on the government, legislators of Imran Khan’s party in the Punjab province assembly resigned on Wednesday.

Opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly and PTI member Mehmoodur Rashid, along with 28 other members, handed their resignations from the House to the Punjab Assembly Secretariat.

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