ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in National Assembly Khursheed Shah said on Thursday that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq’s statement regarding the assemblies was in fact the ‘inside story’. Shah said Ayaz Sadiq had more sense and understanding of the situation. “The situation is suspicious because there is a party which is applying pressure for elections to be held immediately. This party believes if elections are not held, there will be a civil war,” he said. Khursheed Shah stressed that keeping in view the new US policy on South Asia, Pakistan needed to carefully thread out the next steps. “The nation will not forgive us if state institutions are threatened or weakened,” he said. “It is my personal opinion that elections should be held on time and assemblies must complete their term,” he stressed. The PPP leader said that all stakeholders in Pakistan need to sit together to work on how to save the country and democracy. Vowing not to let anyone undermine the supremacy of parliament, he said, “We believe in the constitution of Pakistan and will never accept the ideology of India, Afghanistan or Britain.” He vowed not to let parliament either becoming a ‘rubber-stamp’ or a ‘property of the establishment’. Responding to the statement of Ayaz Sadiq, Awami Muslim League head Sheikh Rasheed said there will be a quick march before the month of March next year. Sh Rasheed said that the speaker had finally started speaking the truth, adding that he had finally realised the facts. “I said it long ago and they’re getting it now. Their story is over now,” he added. Published in Daily Times, December 15th 2017.