• Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar urges democratic forces to unite to address prevalent challenges
• PTI hails SC verdict in MNA’s ‘de-seating’ case

ISLAMABAD: In order to unite democratic forces on one platform, leaders belonging to the opposition parties on Tuesday called on former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar to chart a future course in light of prevalent challenges.

The leaders of the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan — a multi-party alliance headed by PkMAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai — visited the former senator’s residence, including Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub and former speaker Asad Qaiser, among others.

Khokhar, a former PPP leader who contested the 2024 polls as an independent, spoke about Pakistan’s prevailing crises alongside the opposition leaders. He emphasised the need for democratic forces to unite on a shared platform to address the challenges.

He also announced that a follow-up meeting would take place in the coming days to outline a clear agenda for the country’s progress.

Mr Khokhar said there was a need to work together on issues, such as terrorism, economy, politics, democracy, and adherence to the Constitution.

“According to a World Bank re­­port (issued) last week, about 15 million more Pakistanis have fal­len below the poverty line during the last year,” he said, claiming that “Hindutva is eying the nat­ion” and relations with Afgha­nis­tan were deteriorating as “our po­licy has completely failed there”.

“It is also believed that the proxy war between the United States and China will be fought in Balo­chistan,” the ex-senator opined.

Opposition Leader Omar Ayub stressed that a single agenda which united them was the ‘supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law’.

“We seek a judicially independent and free electoral process to restore public confidence,” he said, claiming that the mismanagement by the government, including the underutilisation of the development budget had worsened the economic crisis. Only 9pc funds were spent out of Rs1,400 billion.

Adil Bazai’s case

Meanwhile, the PTI hailed the Supreme Court’s detailed judgement in MNA Adil Bazai’s de-seating case and said that the apex court’s judgement established the Election Commission of Pakistan’s prejudice.

PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqqas Akram stated that the ECP’s conduct in the said case substantiated their arguments regarding the ECP’s consistent bias and prejudice against the PTI.

About the continuation of the dialogue with the government, he emphasised that the onus was on the government to respond, as the PTI had already submitted its ‘charter of demands’ and the government was obligated to respond within seven working days.

Published in Dawn, January 22th, 2025