Opposition alliance agrees to talks with govt
The opposition alliance has agreed to engage in talks with the government, while also deciding to proceed with its planned long march on October 4, opposition leaders said on Thursday.
The decision was taken at a meeting of opposition leaders at Parliament House attended by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and other leaders.
The meeting discussed the proposed long march, government measures and the opposition’s response. Leaders also deliberated on reports about the possible imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Barrister Gohar said the opposition had discussed the long march as well as reports regarding governor’s rule and emergency.
He said the opposition had also condemned the detention of the sisters of PTI founder Imran Khan and what he described as their treatment in custody. He added that several PTI lawmakers had also been arrested.
Barrister Gohar said the opposition remained ready for dialogue, but claimed that the government had not formally contacted it.
“We are still ready for negotiations. The government has not formally contacted us. If they contact us, we will certainly be ready to talk,” he said.
He said the opposition had conveyed its concerns to government advisers and had also approached the Supreme Court, but its orders had not been implemented.
On reports of governor’s rule or emergency, Barrister Gohar said the federation was strengthened when provinces remained autonomous.
“If you do something against the will of the people, the federation will become weaker,” he said, adding that the opposition would also convey this position to the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Barrister Gohar said the opposition considered peace and stability in the country its priority.
Achakzai said he would respond to a letter received from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif but would not go to the Prime Minister’s Office or House for a meeting.
“I am ready to sit anywhere in Pakistan, under any tree. I am ready to visit the house of any party. But I will not go to the Speaker’s House, the Prime Minister’s House or the prime minister’s chamber,” he said.
Achakzai was responding to a question about Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah’s invitation to him and Barrister Gohar to meet the premier.
He also questioned the legitimacy of the prime minister and said he did not want to repeat what he described as harsh words about the government.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas said the opposition would adopt a political approach and support a peaceful long march.
“A democratic government can never be fascist. It should speak to the people with love,” Abbas said.
He said the country was facing serious security and economic challenges and alleged that the judiciary and other state systems had weakened.
“Peace cannot come through bullets,” he said, adding that the opposition wanted to resolve the crisis through political means.
Abbas said the opposition would hold a peaceful protest and urged the government to come to the negotiating table.
He alleged that roads had already been blocked and barriers placed to stop the opposition’s march.
“We will adopt a political approach. We will hold a long march, but it will be peaceful,” he said.
The opposition leaders’ statements came after the federal government said it was considering constitutional options in response to the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and amid preparations for the PTI’s proposed long march.