LAHORE: As opposition parties consult both the government and agitated Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) over the latter’s demand that the prime minister step down, senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi accuses the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of appeasing both sides.

“They are sending different signals to both parties,” Qureshi told Dawn in a telephone conversation. “If they are with the government, they should openly announce their allegiance. If they are with the opposition, then they should make it public.”

The PPP appears to be “confused”, he added.

The government has been in consultation with several political parties in an effort to formulate a strategy to tackle the current political crisis. The PTI, however, is approaching political parties to request that they join his 'Azadi' march and demand Nawaz Sharif's resignation on August 14.

Qureshi said that a telling sign was the previous day’s appointment of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as chairperson of the Electoral Reforms Committee.

“PTI had proposed that since the initiative was taken by opposition to form the reforms committee, the chairmanship should be given to a member of the opposition so that we could have confidence that justice would be served,” he said.

For this reason, he said committee member Shireen Mazari proposed the name of Raza Rabbani for the slot of chairperson.

“Rabbani is a mature and sensible person who was a logical pick for chairmanship. But his own party is hand-in-glove with the N-league to support Ishaq Dar,” Qureshi said.

When asked if the PTI has submitted conditions to the government as claimed by the ANP, Qureshi denied the development.