'United opposition' gathers at Fazl's Islamabad residence, vows stronger alliance

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Opposition leaders on Wednesday gathered at the residence of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad and agreed to strengthen their alliance and parliamentary coordination.</p> <p>After a meeting during which they discussed several matters, including the emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, JUI-F and TTAP decided to form committees to resolve mutual differences and take forward consultations on a multi-party conference (MPC).</p> <p>National Assembly (NA) and Senate opposition leaders, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, respectively, attended the meeting. MNA Asad Qaiser, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, NA Chief Whip Amir Dogar and Senator Noorul Haq Qadri were present from PTI.</p> <p>Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) — headed by Achakzai — termed it a meeting of a “united opposition”.</p> <p>An earlier statement by JUI-F said the gathering was to discuss “the situation of emergency and governor’s rule” in KP, as well as plans for an MPC.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/juipakofficial/status/2118004536044662857'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/juipakofficial/status/2118004536044662857"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>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”.</p> <p>On Aug 20, following a meeting between Fazl and Achakzai, the alliance and JUI-F had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2024144"><u>announced</u></a> plans to form a “united opposition”.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118014666672861334'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118014666672861334"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Speaking to the media after the meeting, Achakzai said the delegation had called on Fazl with the objective of building an alliance to strengthen Parliament.</p> <p>He condemned what he described as a character assassination campaign against the JUI-F chief and declared that the opposition stood firmly with him.</p> <p>He added that the possibility of convening an MPC was also discussed during the meeting.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118059211934310485'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118059211934310485"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>In his remarks, Fazl also said the opposition would work to strengthen its presence in Parliament and protect the interests of every part of the country.</p> <p>Referring to the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), he said his party had opposed the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1913086">2018 merger</a>, adding that the issue was now being linked to a struggle over resources.</p> <p>He also expressed concern over what he alleged were attempts to bring Gwadar, the coastal belt and Sindh’s islands under federal control.</p> <p>The JUI-F chief said the opposition had already represented the people’s concerns regarding the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in KP, stressing that it was speaking about the public mandate and national interests.</p> <p>The leaders agreed to continue consultations and establish a committee to address differences among opposition parties.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118065056407597352'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118065056407597352"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Senator Abbas alleged that the governor’s rule had been illegally imposed in KP and accused the authorities of targeting those who raised their voices for the country’s welfare.</p> <p>On its part, the Centre maintains that the security situation in the province and the PTI-led provincial government’s “<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2036389/info-minister-alleges-nexus-between-pti-led-kp-govt-terrorists">deliberate disengagement</a>” from the counterterrorism fight “<a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2037836">compelled</a>” it to take the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2036352/emergency-governors-rule-imposed-in-kp-as-president-approves-cabinet-decision">measures</a> on Oct 11.</p> <p>Addressing reporters, the Senate opposition leader lamented that the sanctity of homes and the privacy of citizens were being violated as authorities detained people from their residences.</p> <p>He warned of decreasing public confidence in the country’s institutions, claiming Pakistan had reached one of the worst periods in its history.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118062362414535081'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118062362414535081"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>TTAP said its spokesperson Akhundzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, PTI founder Imran Khan’s legal counsel Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, and Agha Nasir Shirazi also attended the meeting.</p> <p>The JUI-F team included 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.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/juipakofficial/status/2118004536044662857'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/juipakofficial/status/2118004536044662857"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <h2><a id="pti-alarmed-over-imrans-high-blood-pressure" href="#pti-alarmed-over-imrans-high-blood-pressure" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" title="Permalink"></a>PTI alarmed over Imran’s ‘high blood pressure’</h2> <p>Meanwhile, PTI’s Raja raised concerns about Imran’s health, saying his blood pressure was not under control. He thanked Fazl for supporting the PTI and alleged that the JUI-F chief was being “punished” for standing with the party.</p> <p>Imran — in prison since <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1768623"><u>Aug 5, 2023</u></a> in multiple cases — had <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2023441/imrans-vision-almost-normal-now-adiala-jail-authorities-tell-supreme-court">complained</a> of uncontrolled and fluctuating blood pressure along with palpitations, headache and restlessness in early August, according to annexures attached to a jail report submitted to the Supreme Court (SC).</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118063859114111261'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/TTAP_OFFICIAL/status/2118063859114111261"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>In an official <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/2117991087922958391">statement</a> issued today, PTI expressed grave concern over its founder’s health, saying his blood pressure had surged to 192. It demanded his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for independent medical treatment under the supervision of his personal physicians.</p> <p>PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said repeated fluctuations in the ex-cricketer’s blood pressure were a matter of extreme concern, stressing that protecting his health was the responsibility of the state.</p> <p>He accused the government of denying Imran adequate medical facilities, family access and treatment of his choice.</p> <p>He demanded immediate implementation of the SC’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2023820">Aug 18 order</a> directing Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital, with treatment supervised by his personal and family-appointed doctors.</p> <p>Imran’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1972699/imran-claims-only-15pc-vision-left-in-right-eye-sc-forms-medical-team-to-examine-pti-founder#:~:text=Diagnosis%20and%20treatment"><u>eye ailment</u></a> — right central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) — <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1969364"><u>came to light</u></a> in late January. While he has undergone eye procedures and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2024149/minister-says-imran-taken-back-to-adiala-jail-after-visit-to-pims-declared-medically-fit-by-doctors">check-ups</a> at the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), his family demands that he be shifted to a hospital of his choice.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/1972708'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/1972708" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>The government and the opposition have been engaged in a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1974066/govt-puts-onus-of-imrans-delayed-care-on-aleema"><u>blame game</u></a>, with the latter <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1974086/ttap-leadership-reaches-sc-for-hearings-of-imrans-cases-alliance-insists-on-personal-physicians-access"><u>accusing</u></a> the former of a lack of transparency on the matter, of not ensuring appropriate treatment for Imran, and of not allowing his personal physicians access to him.</p> <p>The government denies these allegations, saying the required medical treatment is being ensured and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1973692">ample facilities</a> are being provided at the Adiala jail, including a healthy diet plan and exercise equipment.</p> <h2><a id="fazls-pti-ties-amid-row-with-centre" href="#fazls-pti-ties-amid-row-with-centre" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" title="Permalink"></a>Fazl’s PTI ties amid row with Centre</h2> <p>Wednesday’s gathering came a day after PTI said it would <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2041954">welcome</a> 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.</p> <p>“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.</p> <p>Fazl has been critical of the federal government over the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2036416"><u>accused the Centre of reneging</u></a> on its commitments amid his <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2036160#:~:text=PM%20speaks%20to%20Fazl%20on%20reducing%20tensions%20between%20Centre%2C%20KP%20govt"><u>efforts to mediate</u></a> between the federal and KP governments.</p> <p>Since <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2037812"><u>mid-October</u></a>, the veteran politician and key federal ministers have also made <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2040695"><u>harsh remarks</u></a> against each other, after Fazl <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2037611/political-party-head-upset-over-not-being-appointed-kp-governor-claims-naqvi#:~:text=Raising%20doubts%20over%20the%20Centre%E2%80%99s%20reasoning%20behind%20imposing%20governor%E2%80%99s%20rule%20that%20there%20was%20a%20lack%20of%20cooperation%20on%20counterterrorism"><u>accused</u></a> the Centre of depriving the provinces of their rights.</p> <p>Last week, Fazl <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2040486">accused</a> the government of misusing the Constitution and resorting to unconstitutional measures in imposing the emergency.</p> <p>In September, TTAP and PTI leaders said they intended to hold <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2029125">consultations</a> 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 <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2036352/emergency-governors-rule-imposed-in-kp-as-president-approves-cabinet-decision">declaration</a> of emergency and governor’s rule in KP on Oct 11.</p> <p>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.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.