Opposition discusses forming grand alliance

ISLAMABAD:

The top leadership of major opposition parties on Tuesday night gathered for talks on the prevailing political situation in the country and the prospects of a grand alliance against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition government.

The first major huddle of the opposition leaders following the failed talks with the PML-N-led ruling coalition unanimously declared the current government as non-representative and imposed on the people against their will.

The key figures of the opposition parties agreed that holding transparent elections under a neutral election commission was the only way to address the country’s prevailing political and economic instability, social unrest, and security concerns.

“The only way out of serious issues like political and economic instability, social unrest, and terrorism is new elections,” a statement issued following the meeting read.

To a question about forming grand opposition alliance, a senior member of the opposition gathering said that “it’s [meeting] the first step; deliberations will be taking place to sort out the details,” adding “soon you will see major development in this regard.”

In a key meeting held at the residence of former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, several opposition, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the head of Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aeen Pakistan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Sahibzada Hamid Raza of Sunni Ittehad Council, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas of Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen, former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of Awam Pakistan Party, senior politician Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Opposition Leader in the Senate Shibli Faraz, PTI’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar, PTI’s legal team member Advocate Faisal Chaudhry and Akhunzada Hussain, spokesperson for Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aeen Pakistan, attended the meeting.

Talking to the media after the meeting, JUI-F chief said that the February 2024 “elections were rigged”, therefore, the incumbent government had no right to remain in power any longer, emphasising that fresh elections were the only solution to take the country out of economic and other crises.

Fazl said that an opposition alliance had come here at the invitation of Qaiser in which political situation of the country was discussed. “All parties are of the view that the February 8, 2024 was a rigged election. This government’s mandate is not the people’s mandate,” he added.

Fazl also criticised the performance of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding the general elections last year. “The Election Commission did not conduct fair elections. If the Election Commission is truly independent, it should resign,” he charged.

Speaking on the occasion, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also demanded fresh elections in the country, saying that the current government had been imposed upon the people. He added that consultations among the opposition parties would continue in the coming days.

Responding to a question, Abbasi said that political prisoners should be released. When asked about the latest amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), the former prime minster stated: “Black laws like Peca should be abolished.”

The opposition parties’ statement said that the opposition also demanded an end to political oppression and immediate release of political prisoners. The opposition strongly condemned amendments in the Peca, calling for its repeal. The participants also expressed grave concerns over the ongoing wave of terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

To further address these issues, the statement read, a subcommittee was fo

rmed to devise a future course of action, with plans to consult party leadership before finalizing recommendations.

Just ahead of first anniversary of the general elections, the opposition parties have started to gear up against the ruling alliance and mulling on different strategies to exert pressure on the government.

Following the five-week long failed talks between the government and PTI, the opposition parties have now decided to focus on forming a grand opposition alliance to give tough time to the government.