ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday hinted at starting a movement against the incumbent government, with hopes that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman may lead it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, opposition leaders and JUI-F agreed to strengthen their alliance and parliamentary coordination amid recent tensions between the latter and the federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fazl has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor\u2019s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He has accused the Centre of reneging on its commitments amid his efforts to mediate between the federal and KP governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since mid-October, the veteran politician and key federal ministers have also made harsh remarks against each other, after Fazl accused the Centre of depriving the provinces of their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking to Dawn, TTAP spokesperson Akhundzada Hussain Ahmed Yousufzai warned that it had become apparent that JUI-F would \u201cmeet the same fate as PTI\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a war between democratic and undemocratic powers and TTAP will stand by the democratic people,\u201d the TTAP spokesperson said, adding: \u201cWe will always support those who are being suppressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Replying to a question, Yousufzai said that during a recent meeting between JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza and TTAP leaders, it was agreed in principle to gather on one platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was also decided that soon we will hold a multiparty conference (MPC), so a movement can be started against the government after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe hope that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be one of the figures who will be leading the movement,\u201c he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Oct 16, without naming anyone, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had claimed that a \u201chead of a party\u201d was \u201cextremely upset over being denied a role in the new setup in KP and not getting the governorship\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry rebuked Fazl directly, who later clarified his criticism was aimed at policies, not state institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The row played out in the Parliament as well, where Fazl questioned Asif\u2019s absence and Naqvi\u2019s presence at a meeting of the Makkah pact countries and Iran in Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his response the next day, the interior minister explained his participation and went on to assail the JUI-F for \u201ccontinuously crossing the line\u201d and accused it of \u201cextracting wealth from the state\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Friday, JUI-F staged protests in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan, decrying what it called a \u201ccoordinated character assassination campaign\u201d against its leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The JUI-F chief had hinted at launching street agitation while addressing a workers\u2019 convention in Mansehra earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fazl urged workers to stand firmly with him as he prepared to launch a street agitation. \u201cI see you as the strongest force in the country. You must stand firm against oppression and adversity, as activists of no other party dare to stand up at this critical juncture,\u201d he said at the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Political dialogue, not personal attacks\u2019
In a separate statement, the TTAP claimed that \u201cdisgraceful, derogatory and baseless allegations were being levelled against a distinguished religious scholar, senior politician and respected national political figure\u201d, terming the allegations as \u201cdeeply regrettable, shameful and highly condemnable\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPolitical differences are the beauty of any democratic society; however, targeting someone\u2019s honour, dignity, character and family under the pretext of political disagreement is not only contrary to religious, moral and social traditions but also pushes politics further into the depths of hatred, discord and division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDifferences of opinion must be addressed through arguments, logic and political dialogue rather than character assassination, slander and personal attacks. Such a disgraceful and organised campaign must be stopped immediately, and those involved must abandon this reprehensible practice,\u201c it stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The opposition alliance also paid tribute to the JUI-F chief for his stance against the governor\u2019s rule and emergency in KP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement said that the important constitutional and democratic questions raised by Fazl and his party on the matter should be addressed by the government through \u201creason, constitutional arguments and the rule of law instead of resorting to character assassination and pressure tactics\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo political leader can be compelled to abandon a principled position through pressure, threats or organised character assassination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMeasures such as governor\u2019s rule and emergency in KP are contrary to the spirit of provincial autonomy, the people\u2019s mandate and parliamentary democracy, raising serious constitutional and democratic questions,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe TTAP will vigorously oppose these measures at every constitutional, political, parliamentary and legal forum and continue to highlight their constitutional and democratic implications before the public,\u201c it stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In its statement, the TTAP also expressed \u201cdeep concern and regret\u201d over the suspension of hearings by the Peshawar High Court (PHC) in cases filed under Article 199 of the Constitution following the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The statement said that closing the doors of justice to citizens and political workers who had approached the PHC was \u201cextremely alarming\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It emphasised that the fundamental responsibility of the judiciary was to protect citizens\u2019 fundamental rights and examine state actions in the light of the Constitution and the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It demanded that the complete medical reports of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi \u2014 following the medical tests conducted at Adiala jail yesterday \u2014 be made public immediately to address the concerns and apprehensions surrounding their health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TTAP also demanded that the government ensure full and immediate implementation of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision regarding Imran\u2019s transfer to Shifa International Hospital and the provision of medical treatment in the presence of his personal physicians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- The Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday hinted at starting a movement against the incumbent government, with hopes that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman may lead it. Last week, opposition leaders and JUI-F agreed to strengthen their alliance and parliamentary coordination amid recent tensions between the latter and the federal government. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":136158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-136157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n