PHOTO: FILE
Parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Qaumi Watan Party (QWP), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Awami National Party (ANP) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) came together. Their leaders rallying against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
PML-N leader and former federal interior minister Ahsan Iqbal urged all opposition political parties to unite against the government to protect the constitutional sovereignty of the country.
To ensure that the country has an independent judiciary, parliament and media, they will have to work hard and overthrow the so-called puppet prime minister.
Iqbal went on to claim that a year during the general elections, the mandate of the public was ‘stolen’ and that within a year, PM Imran Khan had distorted the image of the country.
“We had a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of over five per cent during the PML-N tenure while the growth rate has now fallen below 3.5 per cent this year,” the former planning and development minister said.
Opposition to stage rallies in Peshawar
“Businesses have been toppled, while industries have been shut due to the unprofessional and inexperienced policies of the federal and provincial governments,” he said, adding that owing to high inflation, daily use commodities have been priced out of the reach of the common man.
Accusing the premier of falsehoods and of taking “u-turns”. Iqbal said that despite his promises of never begging before the world for loans and bailouts, the PTI-led government was signing agreements with international and local lending agencies daily and projecting the premier as an international beggar.
The PML-N leader added that PM Imran had taken a U-turn on every promise he had made during the electioneering process as the constitution of the country lies in limbo.
“All political forces have to strive to uphold the Constitution,” Iqbal concluded.
JUI-F leader Mullana Fazlur Rehman termed the July 2018 elections a drama for a ‘selection’.
“We have to save Pakistan from such people who are destabilising the ideological foundations of the country,” Rehman claimed.
Pointing to the crowd, he said that the people have taken to the roads against the policies of the ruling party and for their rights.
He reiterated his resolve to press ahead with a march he had announced.
“Our forefathers gave tremendous sacrifices for this country and to set up a society which was truly based on Islamic principles. We will never allow such a government who has snatched the mandate of the public,” the JUI-F chief thundered, warning that “we will soon give them a surprise.”
PPP senior leader and former Senate chairman Nayyar Hussain Bukhari noted that his party was backing the joint opposition against a government which he claimed had been ‘imposed’ on them.
“The PPP is not a party which will get scared of a fake accountability process,” Bukhari claimed, hinting at the cases against party leaders.
We welcome any process which is across the board and transparent, the former Senate chairman said, adding that institutions should not be used pressurizing opposition parties and their leadership.
“The public will soon see salvation day,” he stated.
ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan claimed that the provincial and federal governments were using their resources to frame a case against him in the accountability court.
“If anyone finds a rupee worth of corruption against me, hang me in the square,“ Wali said.
“Targeted accountability is being used against Nawaz, Zardari, while his [PM Imran’s] own sister has been given a clean chit in the assets [declaration case],” the ANP chief stated, adding that the premier was busy giving sermons on a chicken and eggs economy.
Referring to recent proclamations regarding the Afghan peace process, Asfandyar stated that a peaceful Afghanistan is in the greater interest of Islamabad and any unrest across the border will definitely disrupt the peace and stability of our country.
QWP chief Sherpao stated that the top political leadership of the country has been either directly or indirectly pushed-out of the parliament.
Tight security measures were been taken by the police during the rallies. However, the event ended early when it started to rain.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2019.
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