'United opposition' gathers at Fazl's Islamabad residence to discuss KP situation, other matters

Opposition leaders on Wednesday gathered at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad to discuss the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, among other matters.

A statement by the JUI-F at night said that opposition leaders in the National Assembly (NA) and Senate, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, respectively, along with key PTI leaders, were attending a meeting to discuss “the situation of emergency and governor’s rule” in KP.

The meeting was also set to discuss plans to hold a multi-party conference (MPC).

Meanwhile, the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) — headed by Achakzai — termed it a meeting of a “united opposition”.

In its statement, TTAP said the meeting was also “discussing unity and solidarity among opposition parties, the supremacy of the Constitution and law, the protection of democratic rights, a joint strategy to address the current political situation, and a future course of action”.

On Aug 20, following a meeting between Fazl and Achakzai, the alliance and JUI-F had announced plans to form a “united opposition”.

MNA Asad Qaiser, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, NA Chief Whip Amir Dogar and Senator Noorul Haq Qadri were present from PTI in Wednesday’s huddle, while TTAP spokesperson Akhundzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai was attending as well.

TTAP said that PTI core committee member and Imran Khan’s legal counsel, Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, as well as Agha Nasir Shirazi, were also participating in the meeting.

JUI-F said it was represented by its vice-president and KP chapter president Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman, senators Kamran Murtaza and Maulana Attaul Haq Darwish, alongside party members Akram Khan Durrani, Aslam Ghauri, Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi, Hafiz Hamdullah and Zahid Durrani.

The gathering came a day after PTI said it would welcome support from Fazl in its struggle against the government, with Raja telling the media that the party would welcome anyone who stood by it and supported its struggle.

“It is possible that some may walk with us for one mile, some for 10 miles, and some may go with us till the end. But why should we reject them?” the PTI secretary general said.

Fazl has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He accused the Centre of reneging on its commitments amid his efforts to mediate between the federal and KP governments.

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.

Last week, Fazl accused the government of misusing the Constitution and resorting to unconstitutional measures in imposing the emergency.

In September, TTAP and PTI leaders said they intended to hold consultations to call an MPC to discuss several issues, including the creation of new provinces, law and order, and the economy. This was prior to the government’s declaration of emergency and governor’s rule in KP on Oct 11.

In the days preceding the emergency, political tensions between the Centre and the opposition — including the PTI, which was in power in KP — had remained high since Imran’s party announced a protest march to Islamabad to demand his release.