Country’s situation demands joint struggle: opposition parties

ISLAMABAD: The opposition parties on Tuesday agreed that the country’s situation and the crisis demanded that all democratic forces join hands on a single platform to bring the country and the nation out of the crisis.

Tehreek Tahafuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai hosted a dinner in honor of the opposition leaders. It was attended by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Asad Qaiser, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Allama Nasir Abbas, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Shibli Faraz, Sardar Latif Khosa, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Junaid Akbar, Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Aslam Ghori, Akhunzada Hussain and other leaders.

The leaders expressed surprise at the meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, saying that it was unprecedented. They also expressed concern over the country’s economic situation and said that how could the economy improve where there is no rule of law and a system of justice.

The opposition leaders were deeply concerned over the law and order situation across the country, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. They charged that the federal government had completely failed to protect the lives and property of the people.

They also agreed to hold an all-party conference in the future to enhance mutual relations and address the challenges facing the country and to establish a steering committee to draft a national agenda. The opposition leaders reiterated the demand made after their first meeting last week that transparent and free elections should be held immediately in the country, and that the Election Commission should resign immediately and an independent commission should be established.

The meeting condemned the serious violation of basic human rights in the country and demanded that all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, be released immediately.