ISLAMABAD-Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has called upon the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf and Awami Tehreek to withdraw its call for entrance into the red zone.

Talking to the media persons in Islamabad, he said political and democratic forces are collectively engaged with the two protesting parties to find a political situation of the current situation. He said appropriate security measures will also be taken for the security of the red zone in the wake of provocative calls given by the PTI and the Awami Tehreek. He said the parliament is not the property of a single party. It is a sovereign institution representing 180 million people of the country. Any attack on this sacred institution will be considered an attack on the constitution and democracy.

Ahsan Iqbal said the country is not being run by an NGO but the PML-N which is the most powerful political force of this country. A handful of people cannot steal the mandate of the ruling party and its allies which have secured millions of votes. He said the government is demonstrating utmost flexibility and patience and advising the same to its supporters who are perturbed over the situation created by a few thousand people. Talking to the media persons in Islamabad, Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch said the demand of PTI and Awami Tehreek for resignation of the prime minister is constitutional. He said a few thousand people cannot impose their will on the mandate of millions of people.

The Minister said the prime minister has given full authority to the negotiating team to go to any extent for amicable solution of the current crisis. He however made it clear that no compromise will be made on the constitution and democracy. Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said we are constantly trying to engage Awami Tehreek and PTI on the table of negotiations but so far all the efforts have remained futile. He said the protesting parties should not do politics of corpses and open doors for dialogue for the sake of the country.