Opp denied venue for multi-party confab

The opposition's much-anticipated All Parties Conference (APC), set for February 26 and 27, hit a snag even before it could begin, as organisers alleged that the local administration of the twin cities threw a spanner in the works by refusing to allow the event until the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was over.

However, the opposition parties remain undeterred, vowing to go full steam ahead with the conference, which will focus on upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

They said that the event will proceed as planned on Wednesday and Thursday, with a new venue to be announced soon.

In a hurriedly-called press conference on Tuesday night, the convenor of the newly registered political party Awam Pakistan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, revealed that the officials of all the places booked earlier for holding the events have excused one after the other.

The party head said that they were pressurised by the local administrations to cancel the events.

However, the opposition parties have now decided that the conference will still be held and the final venue will soon be communicated. Abbasi was accompanied by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chair-man of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Sahibzada Hamid Raza of Sunni Ittehad Council, and Sal-man Akram Raja, the secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, among others.

The opposition sees the ongoing political and constitutional crises as a serious threat to democracy. It aims to formulate a joint strategy to address these challenges, saying the government and local administrations shouldn't be afraid of a closed-door meeting discussing the ongoing political, economic, and constitutional challenges.

During the press conference, Achakzai went on to say that the opposition would not allow the Parliament to smoothly function if the opposition's move was thwarted. Raza also minced no words in saying that the conference would be held at all costs.

Earlier, the opposition released the agenda of the national conference on the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law, saying they aimed to bring together politicians, legal experts, civil society representatives and media, to discuss the core issues and devise the future course of action.

The agenda stated that the efforts to establish a prosperous and democratic state were repeatedly weakened by non-democratic forces' frequent interference, adding that it was further compounded by conspiracies, weak political system, corruption and confrontation within the institutions.

The national conference, hosted by Abbasi and Achakzai, was initially scheduled to take place at The Atrium, E-11, Islamabad, from 10 am to 6 pm. However, due to a last-minute withdrawal by the Atrium's management, the event will now be held at a different venue.

Through the agenda, the opposition parties have conveyed that political stability is essential for economic progress and that any deviation from constitutional principles weakens democracy. They maintained that the APC will serve as a platform to build consensus on measures needed to protect the system from unconstitutional actions.

The agenda states that Pakistan's Constitution defines the framework of a sovereign and independent state. Since 1947, it says, the Constitution has outlined a complete state system but challenges in up-holding these principles have persisted.

Emphasising that Pakistan was passing through a critical juncture, it said the country continues to face constitutional crises, political instability and economic challenges even after the general elections of February 2024, alleging that public mandate was violated and democratic norms were undermined.

"The elections not only put a question mark on the political process but on the democratic future of Pakistan," it read.

In such circumstances, it says, maintaining constitutional supremacy and the rule of law is essential, adding that the need for national dialogue and narrative becomes even more critical to collectively steer the country toward stability and progress.

Against this backdrop, it continues, the conference is being organised to mull the country's direction and provide practical solutions for moving forward from hereon. The opposition says that the participants will also discuss ways to safeguard fundamental rights, promote transparency in governance and uphold freedom of speech and the press.

They say the discussion will also highlight the need for a transparent and accountable government that can restore public trust in institutions. The agenda urges the general public to come forward, play their role and put the country back on a democratic path.

Over the past few weeks, the opposition has intensified consultations with different parties and leaders to find viable solutions to the country's current crises and start a movement against the PML-N government.

Opposition leaders maintain that they will not allow democratic values to be undermined under any circumstances. As political tensions escalate, the opposition's APC poses a fresh challenge to the government, further intensifying the already volatile political landscape.

During the PTI government, the then-opposition parties had also come together to put pressure on the then-government. Later on, the opposition parties had successfully executed a no-confidence motion against the then-premier Imran Khan, which had paved the way for the PML-N-led coalition government.