Opposition leaders convene at Fazl’s residence to discuss K-P emergency

Opposition parties on Wednesday announced the formation of committees to organise an All Parties Conference (APC) and resolve differences among political groups, while vowing to launch a countrywide movement against what they described as an undemocratic government.

The announcement was made after an opposition meeting at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, where leaders also condemned what they called a campaign of character assassination against the JUI-F chief and criticised the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

“The committee comprises Salman Akram Raja, Kamran Murtaza, Mustafa Khokhar, Aamir Dogar, Nasir Shirazi and Mohammad Aslam Ghauri,” Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) Vice Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas announced at a press conference at Fazl’s residence.

He said a separate subcommittee would work to resolve differences among the parties and explore ways for them to work together in the future. He announced that Sallahuddin Ayubi, Akhunzada Hussain and Khalid Yousaf would serve as its coordinators.

 Abbas said the APC would be held within a week to 10 days, with a committee tasked with consulting political parties, finalising the agenda and announcing the date.

Speaking at the presser, TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the gathering had been convened to condemn the government’s attacks on Maulana Fazl and express solidarity with him.

“The way the government is targeting Maulana Fazlur Rehman is condemnable. We have come here to express our solidarity with him,” he said.

“We clearly declare that this approach will not work. If someone speaks the truth and points out your wrongdoings, such behaviour will not only pollute the political arena but could also lead to extremely dangerous consequences,” he warned.

Achakzai said a committee had been formed to arrange the APC, which was expected to be held this month, adding that another committee would work to address differences and reservations between the PTI and the JUI-F and improve relations between the two parties.

He said the opposition would launch a movement across the country against what he termed as an “undemocratic government”.

Criticising the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in K-P, Achakzai said the measures amounted to an insult to the mandate of the province’s 40 million people.

“Do not provoke us or launch unjustified attacks against us. God forbid, if an incident takes place as a result, it may become difficult for everyone to handle the consequences,” he warned.

Fazl, addressing the press conference, thanked the opposition leaders for attending the meeting and said the participants had held serious consultations on the country’s political situation.

“It has been agreed that this consultation process will continue. A committee has been formed for the All Parties Conference, while a subcommittee has also been established to address any mutual reservations,” he said.

He said the opposition had consistently raised concerns over governor’s rule, the imposition of emergency and what he described as attempts to take control of mineral resources.

“We have represented the nation on these issues. We have spoken for the people’s trust, and we will play our role in protecting it,” he said.

Fazl alleged that provincial rights and resources were being taken away under various pretexts. Referring to Balochistan, he said attempts were being made to bring profitable coastal areas, including Gwadar, under federal control.

He also referred to discussions about placing islands in Sindh under federal control.

He said the rights granted to provinces and their people under the 18th Amendment were now under threat.

Referring to the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with K-P, he said his party had expressed reservations at the time, arguing that the province was not prepared to absorb the region.

He said the factors behind the earlier move had been political, while the current developments appeared to be driven by control over resources.

“We have reservations about these contradictory policies and strategies. We have presented our concerns with full arguments,” he said.

The JUI-F chief said the opposition was raising national issues through political discourse, but the government was targeting individuals instead of addressing the concerns.

He referred to what he described as attempts to divert public attention towards matters such as the installation of a generator, construction of a cabin and the location of a kitchen at his residence.

“These things are laughable. Through such absurdities, they are diverting the public’s attention elsewhere,” he said.

Fazl said his party would not be distracted by such matters and would continue to protect national resources and provincial rights.

“We will neither allow any international institution to plunder our country’s assets nor permit Pakistan’s own institutions to deprive the people of their rights,” he said.

He alleged that votes were stolen during elections and resources were plundered after governments were formed, saying such practices were contrary to democracy, the Constitution and Shariah.

Responding to a question about the federal government’s position on provincial autonomy and the creation of new provinces, Fazl said the centre was particularly concerned about two issues: the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award and mineral resources.

“This has always been our clear stance. You have heard us say that the federal government is currently troubled by two things: the NFC Award and mineral resources,” he said.

He added that his party had raised the issues at public gatherings even before the recent measures, saying the developments had now made its concerns evident.

Questioning the purpose behind calls for creating new provinces, JUI-F chief said granting financial powers to district governments could turn them into rivals of provincial administrations.

“Establishing district governments and granting them financial powers means setting provincial institutions against the provincial government,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with the establishment, he said that an institution which was supposed to be subordinate to the government had become more powerful than it.

“All these measures amount to destroying the country’s system. We, however, want a balance within the system in accordance with the Constitution and the law,” he said.

Opposition leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also criticised the government’s actions, alleging that the country was being run in an unconstitutional manner and that the rule of law had disappeared.

“Lawlessness, oppression and unconstitutional measures are increasing by the day, while the sanctity of homes is being violated,” he said.

He alleged that the government had undermined the electoral process, damaged the Constitution and attacked the independence of the judiciary before moving against people’s homes and, subsequently, the mandate of K-P.

“By imposing emergency and governor’s rule in the province, the government has sent a message to the people that their mandate has no value,” he said.

 Abbas said a country could not function when institutions ceased to exist, and individuals took control of the system. He warned that public confidence in the system was essential for the country’s stability.

He also condemned what he described as a campaign of character assassination against Maulana Fazl after the JUI-F chief criticised the government’s policies, governor’s rule and emergency in K-P.

“Whether this happens to Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif or even our enemy, it is wrong and condemnable. This is a bad tradition,” he said.

“Today you are entering our homes; tomorrow people may enter yours. Remember, you reap what you sow,” he added.

Opposition huddle at Fazl’s residence

Earlier, opposition parties gathered at Fazl’s residence to discuss the prevailing political situation, including the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The JUI-F media cell confirmed that it was a meeting of the “united opposition”. The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) also confirmed the development.

Those attending the meeting included Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and National Assembly Chief Whip Aamir Dogar.

Read: PTI, TTAP affirm ‘full support’ for Fazl after govt hammering in Parliament

Other participants included Senator Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Senator Kamran Murtaza, former K-P chief minister Akram Khan Durrani, JUI-F leaders Hafiz Hamdullah, Maulana Attaur Rehman and Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh, and Senator Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi.

The meeting discussed unity among opposition parties, supremacy of the Constitution and the law, protection of democratic rights, a joint strategy to address the prevailing political situation and the opposition’s future course of action.

Other participants included Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) spokesperson Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, PTI core committee member and legal counsel to Imran Khan Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, Agha Nasir Shirazi, Akhunzada Hussain, Zahir Durrani and Aslam Ghauri.

On October 11, governor’s rule and an emergency were imposed in K-P, transferring executive authority from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government to the governor. An 11-member advisory council was formed to assist him in overseeing provincial administrative affairs.

The federal government also established a separate administrative structure for 12 districts, including an area representative and a development council to facilitate local representation and development planning.

Also Read: Opposition unites against governor’s rule in K-P

The latest gathering is the first joint meeting of opposition parties to formulate a response to the imposition of governor’s rule in the province, with both Fazl and Achakzai in attendance.

Following the imposition of the emergency and governor’s rule, Fazl accused the government of backing out of negotiations with the PTI and the opposition despite initially agreeing to their demands.

He categorically rejected the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency in K-P, saying that if an emergency had to be imposed, it should be imposed on the federal government, which he described as illegitimate.

The criticism subsequently spilled over into the assembly, escalating the war of words between the government and the JUI-F chief. Fazl had accused the government of misusing the Constitution.

Federal ministers hit back, accusing the JUI-F chief of overlooking his own role in forming and toppling governments.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticised Fazl over his opposition to governor’s rule in the province, suggesting that the religious-political leader was unhappy at not being offered a role in the new provincial setup.

Later, a delegation of the PTI and TTAP expressed full support for the JUI-F chief’s speech in the National Assembly and condemned what it described as his character assassination by government ministers following his strong criticism of the government’s actions.