Opposition steps up consultations to hold APC on new provinces, law and order

Islamabad
The opposition parties on Friday stepped up consultations on forming a joint platform and convening an all-parties conference to discuss law and order, the economy, inflation and the creation of new provinces.
The development came as a delegation of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence today to discuss political matters, including the opposition’s protest movement.
According to Express News, the delegation comprised PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser. The delegation was received by Maulana Fazl and other JUI-F leaders before the meeting.
Speaking outside Maulana Fazl’s residence after the meeting, Barrister Gohar said discussions were held on forming a joint opposition in the Senate and National Assembly.
He said an agreement had been reached on the joint opposition and that Friday’s meeting was the first session in this regard.
“We have decided that all parties will be taken into confidence on national issues,” he said.
Gohar said an alliance meeting had also been held at the National Assembly in the office of the Opposition Leader in the Senate, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, where it was decided that all opposition parties would be taken into confidence on national issues and an APC would be convened to discuss them.
“We want to discuss the current law and order situation in the country, the state of the economy and inflation, and the situation of lawlessness. The issue of provinces has also been raised all of a sudden and is being discussed. Therefore, we want an all-parties conference to be convened in which all stakeholders participate,” he added.
He said all these issues had been discussed in detail with Maulana Fazl and consultations with him were continuing.
“When this consultation process is complete, we will inform you through the joint opposition platform,” he said.
Gohar described the first meeting as a welcome development and said such consultations would continue in the future.
JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri welcomed the opposition delegation, saying the consultative meeting had also discussed the proposed APC.
He said various issues, including the establishment of provinces, were discussed. He added that the situation in Balochistan, terrorism and other problems would also be taken up.
“Given the problems facing the country, efforts will be made to play some role,” he said.
Later, in a post on X, Gohar said the PTI delegation had been led by him and included Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, former National Assembly speaker and Secretary General of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan Asad Qaiser, PTI Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi and TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai.