Opposition seeks formation of consensus truth, reconciliation commission

ISLAMABAD: Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan Monday formally made public its 15-point ‘national agenda’, demanding formation of a consensus truth and reconciliation commission.

“A truth and reconciliation commission should be established with the agreement of all political parties to compile its reports to correct the past events and the country’s history. The current ruling coalition had agreed on such a commission in Article 13 of the Charter of Democracy, but despite coming to power three times, it has been unable to implement it,” says the document, a copy of which is available with The News.

The opposition alliance through its agenda rejected the last year’s general elections and demanded fresh transparent and fair elections under an independent Election Commission.

The national agenda, released here at a ceremony, said the process of making Pakistani citizens missing persons should be stopped and, realizing the seriousness and far-reaching consequences of this process, the missing persons should be presented before the judiciary in accordance with the law.

It was also emphasized that there was currently great concern throughout the country about the situation in Balochistan. “The alliance demands that the security agencies should not deviate from the right to a fair trial given in the constitution under any circumstances.

“Armed terrorist organizations can only be confronted by keeping in mind constitutional values and the human rights of the citizens there. This alliance also agrees that the trade of Balochistan’s resources for an unrepresentative puppet government is not permissible in any case,” the agenda notes.

In this era of artificial intelligence (AI), it contended, internet shutdowns in the country are not only regrettable but also shameful. The act of throwing the future of the youth into the fire in an attempt to control language and thought is condemnable. The alliance demands immediate lifting of restrictions on the internet.

“The ban on student unions should be lifted with a youth population of over 60 percent. Free local elections should be held immediately in Islamabad, Punjab and other provinces under Article 140 of the Constitution so that political, administrative and financial powers can be truly transferred to the local representatives at the grassroots level,” the opposition alliance said.

It demanded that all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, should be released, and politically motivated cases should be dropped after investigation.

The alliance also demanded the government to come out of its echo chamber on the external front and understand the rapidly changing international situation. “Today, in a situation where the international order established after World War II is in decline, it is not possible to protect its importance and interests through an unrepresentative assembly. Moreover, Pakistan should realize the tense situation on its borders and initiate dialogue with Afghanistan to resolve the issues,” the document emphasised.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahmood Khan Achakzai cautioned, “If we make a small slip, we will lose, as when someone attacks, we will have to fight whether we like it or not. We have been shouting for three years that our region is going to become a battlefield”.

He wondered how the country could be rid of the unfortunate war, adding he was against all forms of terrorism. He emphasized that the problems were small but the understanding was big saying now was the time to unite the country.

About Iranian foreign minister’s visit to Pakistan, Achakzai believed he had arrived here for some other purpose. He wondered if anyone who sold his conscience and faith was loyal to the country, He proposed that all political parties should form a national government together and save Pakistan.

“Pakistan is in trouble, and it is in trouble because of us. This is the only country that corrupts its own children, then arrests them and finally makes them chief minister,” he remarked. He made it clear that if someone had a better agenda than theirs, then they will welcome it.

“The Constitution binds us together but you people break it; we will not bow before anyone; we have to take Pakistan out of this quagmire.” PTI’s senior leader and ex-speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser explained that the alliance of opposition parties had put the national agenda before the nation and that this was the same agenda on which they held a national conference.

“On the 7th, we are going to Punjab, and we want to keep the national agenda before. We will also discuss the issues of Punjab during this time. We will also hold such conferences in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he noted.

He said they were very concerned about the situation in the federating units of Pakistan adding that Balochistan government currently did not practically represent the people.

Majlis Wahadatul Muslimeen head Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the unanimous and joint declaration of the Tehreek was the voice and expression of the 240 million people of the country. “We make it clear that the system of federation in Pakistan cannot exist without the Constitution of Pakistan. The result of violating the Constitution always comes in the form of riots, corruption, unrest and instability we are seeing with our own eyes today,” he contended.

Referring to the era of General Pervez Musharraf, PTI’s Latif Khosa said even now 36 judges had been appointed.

“When they have to form a judiciary of their choice and take favorable and positive decisions, this is how judicial packing is done when the judges of the Supreme Court themselves write that the 26th Amendment should be placed before the full court first,” he noted.

He maintained that if any constitutional amendment undermined the spirit of the Constitution, it was a complete nonsense.

Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who presented the national agenda said, “Our desire was that the problems facing the opposition alliance in Pakistan should be highlighted. There is nothing in this agenda that is against the law”.

He was of the view that the sanctity of the people and the state should not be violated in any way, only then will the state be able to move forward.