ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The joint opposition, including the JUI-F and Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), on Friday held a meeting to formulate out their future political strategy.
They agreed in principle to form a joint opposition platform in parliament to take more effective action on key national issues.
Speaking to the media after meeting representatives of opposition parties at his residence, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman expressed concern over what he described as the country’s deteriorating law and order situation, claiming that two provinces were facing war-like conditions and that the writ of the government was being challenged.
Those who attended the meeting included TTAP chief and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Aamir Dogar.
Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Senator Dilawar Khan, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay and others were part of the JUI-F team.
“The lives of citizens have become miserable and everyone feels insecure,” he said, adding that the government was offering assurances but the objectives behind repeated security operations had yet to be achieved.
The JUI-F chief said the opposition had raised similar concerns in the past, but no meaningful change had occurred in the situation.
He said traders in the tribal areas had been badly affected, while the closure of Pakistan’s western border had deprived the region of trade and business opportunities.
Referring to relations with China, the Maulana said Pakistan had damaged Beijing’s confidence and alleged that the country was becoming increasingly isolated.
He criticised what he described as the government’s narrative on national affairs and said the country was facing serious challenges that could not be addressed through political distractions.
‘No preparation’
Commenting on demands for the creation of new provinces, he said there was no preparation or groundwork for such a move.
The Maulana said the opposition had decided to take its collective position directly to the people. Responding to the prime minister’s call for dialogue, he said that “it takes two hands to clap”. He added that the government was acting against the interests of the people.
He said the opposition representatives would now consult their respective parties before holding another meeting to decide the future course of action.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Achakzai, who is also the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief, warned against attempts to take control of the country’s resources, saying that if the situation continued and political forces were pushed to the wall, he would be prepared to approach international courts.
During his speech, Mr Abbas alleged that the country was being run without regard for the rule of law and that even the Supreme Court had been defied, referring to the government’s move to take PTI founder Imran Khan to Pims instead of Shifa International Hospital.
Mr Abbas said a country where laws were not respected could not be considered a properly functioning state.
Asad Qaiser and Salman Akram Raja criticised the government, mainly referring to the recent fiasco related to the hospital check-up of the PTI founder.
