[Azadi] march madness: 3 days to go

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Azadi March and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Dr Tahirul Qadri's 'Revolution March' will now storm the capital together, further intensifying the stand-off with the government. Many questions remain unanswered at this stage. Will Imran's 'peaceful' rally be hijacked by Qadri's more volatile protesters? Whose demands is the combined march really about — Qadri's, or Imran's? Will speculations of a military intervention push the situation beyond the point of no return for Nawaz and co.? Below is a round-up of the day’s political happenings and statements which will be updated in the build-up to August 14. Still room for dialogue, hints Nawaz Speaking at the 'Vision 2025' conference, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that his government was open to dialogue. In an direct reference to the PTI, Nawaz said that a long march on August 14 could instead be held for the unity the nation. “If you think there are flaws, there are weaknesses or they are not in Pakistan's interest…then tell us. “In the past, I personally came to your doorstep at one phone call from you. Call me again and I will be there. Let's sit and talk,” he said. “Imran, Qadri leading Pakistan towards destruction” Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri are leading the country towards destruction, and that both would be responsible if any untoward incident takes place. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament house, he said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will condemn any undemocratic step. “Following the 2013 general elections, all political parties accepted Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister but how can they reject him now after only 14 months,” he wondered. The veteran PPP leader said that he had tried to convince Imran Khan of the ground realities and told him that staying silent on issues was tantamount to insensitivity, and that insensitivity leads to destruction. Musharraf’s friends behind chaos? Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal accused “friends of Musharraf of being behind the chaotic campaigns launched by Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri to destabilise the country. In an obvious reference to the protests being organised by Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik of Dr Qadri, he said: “The whole drama is being staged only because of the government’s decision to try the former president under Article 6 (of the constitution). “Hidden forces” was his response when asked who was putting pressure on the government. He also accused the PTI and the PAT of promoting a foreign agenda. Ahsan Iqbal said some friends of Musharraf were behind the campaigns launched by Imran Khan and Allama Tahirul Qadri who had secret understanding to destabilise democracy. “Their joint attack is against parliament and not the government (alone),” he said. "As long as I am alive..." During a meeting of the party’s core committee held in the capital, Imran Khan painstakingly dispelled an impression that his party was pursuing back-channel talks with the government and that the march may be called off. He stuck to his stance of ‘no negotiations’ and declared that the August 14 demonstration was the only thing on his mind. “As long as I am alive, I am prepared to even walk to Islamabad on August 14, come what may,” Mr Khan was quoted as saying during the meeting. All hands on deck for 'Azadi March' Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has asked the people to participate in the PTI’s ‘Azadi March’ to rid the country of what he termed suppressive regime at the centre. The chief minister claimed that the people of Punjab had risen against the Sharif brothers as they had come to power through bogus mandate. “A government formed through rigged elections cannot serve the people,” he said. “PML-N is an offshoot of dictatorship and thus it cannot be a democratic party.” PPP won't allow democracy to be derailed Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani warned Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) leader Dr Tahirul Qadri against politics of agitation and said if any harm was caused to democracy, they would be held responsible for that. “The PPP will not allow any adventurer to derail the hard-earned democracy through agitation,” Mr Durrani declared, and said the party would safeguard democracy at all costs.