A delegation of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Aain Pakistan (TTAP), including Senate opposition leader Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI leaders, on Friday invited Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to participate in a multiparty conference proposed by the opposition alliance.
The opposition had first announced its intention to hold MPC on Sept 11, with the PTI leading the initiative. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had outlined plans to hold the conference, saying that “the current law and order situation, the economy, inflation, lawlessness, and the creation of new provinces issue” called for such measures.
On Friday, the delegation met the JI chief and discussed the country’s overall political situation, democratic process, supremacy of the Constitution and other national issues, according to a statement shared by TTAP on social media platform X.
The statement said the participants stressed the “need to make communication and consultation among democratic and political forces more effective to promote political stability, strengthen democratic traditions and ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and law”.
The participants agreed that dialogue and cooperation among political parties were essential for safeguarding national interests, democratic values and constitutional supremacy, it added.
In a separate meeting, under the leadership of Senator Abbas, a TTAP delegation met former prime minister and Chairman of the Awam Pakistan Party Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at his residence.
“During the meeting, a detailed exchange of views took place on the country’s overall political situation, the democratic process, the supremacy of the Constitution, and national issues,” the statement said.
The delegation also invited Abbasi to participate in the MPC organised under the auspices of TTAP, it added.
On the occasion, TTAP Vice Chairman and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, as well as TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, were also present.
“The meeting emphasised the need to continue the process of communication and consultation among all political forces for political stability in the country, the promotion of democratic traditions, and the supremacy of the Constitution,” the statement said.
Barrister Gohar had announced the multiparty moot last month after a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leaders, who have also agreed to attend the opposition’s moot. Earlier this week, the opposition alliance also invited PPP to attend the multiparty moot, which the ruling ally welcomed.
Speaking to Dawn earlier this week, TTAP spokesperson Yousafzai said the MPC would be held after PTI’s protest, which is scheduled for Oct 4 to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. The TTAP has also formed a six-member committee to hold consultations with political parties and reach an agreement on the agenda for the proposed MPC.
The development also comes as the federal government is set to hold talks with the opposition ahead of the October 4 protest.
‘All parties must consult’
Speaking at a joint media talk after the meetings, Abbas said all political parties had a responsibility to sit together and consult on the current situation in Pakistan.
“All the parties that have a history in Pakistan, in forming and writing the Constitution, all the parties which might be in opposition or otherwise, it is their responsibility to sit and do mutual consultations and discuss this current situation in Pakistan, including the lackings in peace, politics, and economics, and take Pakistan out of it,” he said.
“We met Hafiz Naeem today, grateful to him. Right now, there is an agenda for the All Parties Conference. Political parties should sit and discuss Pakistan’s problems, do an assessment of all the problems and then find a way out for all that,” he said.
The senator said the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly over the imposition of governor rule and emergency ahead of PTI’s October 4 protest call, also came under discussion during the meeting.
“On that, we have consensus that there should not be an emergency,” he said, adding that he was grateful to Hafiz Naeem for speaking against emergency and governor’s rule.
“These things will not strengthen Pakistan but instead further destabilise it and Pakistan will have more crises,” he said.
He said Barrister Gohar and PTI leaders Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar, Haleem Adil Sheikh and Asad Qaiser were also part of the delegation.
“I believe if all parties meet like this, we can take Pakistan out of crisis. They have the ability, the potential. Earlier also, whenever they’ve stepped into the field, they’ve given solutions, shown the way,” he said.
Meanwhile, JI chief thanked Abbas and the other members of the delegation, saying the two sides had held a “good discussion”.
“As far as the All Parties Conference is concerned, JI accepts this invitation and [..] we will take part,” he said, adding that “a national agenda right now is necessary” and “urgently needed”.
He said the agenda should cover law and order, the economic situation and the rights of the people, with political forces reaching consensus on these issues.
“We work along with the people to recover Pakistan so the country can move forward and progress,” he said.
Rehman said the division of people into groups, with the perception that only a certain group could rule while the same people governed the economy, society and politics and the common people remained on the other side, needed to end.
“That is why it is important to sit and discuss, come to a common ground, which is why I appreciate this,” he said.
On the governor’s rule in KP and the proposal for an emergency in the province, Rehman said JI had opposed such measures in the past as well.
“JI will not accept anything that suspends or disregards the Constitution or ruins any running system to achieve certain agendas. Any steps taken for it, JI will not support,” he said.
“We don’t accept governor’s rule in KP. Similarly, we will not accept emergency under any conditions, and we oppose it,” he added.
Rehman said the government should have held consultations and talks with the opposition earlier over PTI’s demands, adding that the delay had further deteriorated the situation.
“Now that a committee has been formed, I consider it a good thing, but it should be meaningful instead of just sitting and doing a photo session,” he said. “It should reach a conclusion.”
On PTI’s demands, he said they were “straightforward”, arguing that PTI founder was in jail and party members were unable to meet him.
“This is not acceptable under any circumstances. They should be given access to meet,” he said.
Regarding speculation about Imran’s health, Rehman said all concerns should be addressed, regardless of political differences.
“Even if there is a political opponent, even then, considering that he is a human and an important political personality, ex-premier, how can this be ignored?” he said.
“All the reservations regarding his health should be addressed, and the Supreme Court’s decision should be implemented in its spirit,” he said, referring to the SC’s August 18 order directing Imran’s transfer to a private medical facility.
Rehman said PTI’s demands were “reasonable”, particularly those concerning the arrest of Imran’s sisters and Dr Yasmin Rashid, whom he described as unwell.
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