Opposition bloc agrees to conditional talks with govt
Photo: X/ File
The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan), a bloc of opposition parties, has decided to give a positive but conditional response to the government’s offer for dialogue, sources said on Wednesday.
A high-level consultative meeting was held in Islamabad, attended by TTA leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri, Aam Awam Party chief Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Asad Qaiser, Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry. The session focused on the current political situation, recent government statements, and a possible framework for negotiations.
Sources told The Express Tribune that participants reviewed the government’s offer in detail, with particular attention to statements made by PM’s political aide Rana Sanaullah, and assessed the environment for meaningful dialogue. The huddle agreed that any talks should uphold constitutional supremacy and democratic principles, according to sources.
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During the meeting, it was proposed that the alliance’s designated leaders formally engage with the government to advance the negotiation process. Following consensus, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri were given full authority to lead the negotiations.
Sources said the TTAP leadership plans to contact government leaders during Ramazan to discuss the agenda, procedures, and potential timelines for talks. Opposition circles stressed that their priority is constitutional integrity, political stability, and the restoration of democratic processes.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Junaid Akbar expressed support for conditional negotiations, stating that political parties are committed to dialogue and resolving issues through reconciliation. He added that ending confrontation with institutions is crucial, but the government must also adopt a serious approach.
Confirming progress, another PTI leader Atif Khan said all alliance parties attended the recent meeting and expressed full confidence in the two designated leaders. He added that the government will receive a formal response, and the public will be kept informed to ensure transparency in the process.
The government had extended a fresh olive branch to the opposition. The offer came from Sanaullah in response to a speech in the Senate by opposition leader, who had demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee to meet the incarcerated former prime minister, Ian Khan, and examine his health condition.
“Let us sit together to strengthen and take forward the charter of democracy,” Sanaullah said last week, adding that the government was ready for dialogue to strengthen democracy and avoid confrontation and deadlock. “We are ready to sit with you for the betterment of the country,” he asserted, maintaining that parties in the current ruling coalition had stressed the need for talks even when the PTI was in power.
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Meanwhile on Thursday, the TTAP leadership expressed grave concern over a recent surge in terrorist attacks across the country and urged the government to formulate a comprehensive national strategy on terrorism.
At a meeting of the alliance’s central committee held at the residence of Khokhar during an iftar gathering in Islamabad, participants voiced concern over escalating attacks, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Participants urged the federal government to formulate a comprehensive national counterterrorism strategy in consultation with provincial governments, political stakeholders and the public.
In a statement issued after a meeting, the alliance also voiced alarm over what it described as a worsening dispute with Afghanistan and called on both countries to avoid further confrontation. It urged the initiation of “serious, sincere and meaningful negotiations” to address the issue of terrorism, suggesting engagement with neighbouring countries as well as friendly governments such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to prevent further bloodshed and external interference in Pakistan and the wider region.
اسلام آباد، 26 فروری 2026: جمعرات کو قومی اپوزیشن اتحاد تحریک تحفظ آئین پاکستان (ٹی ٹی اے پی) کی قیادت نے سابق وزیراعظم اور قائد پاکستان تحریک انصاف عمران خان کو شفا انٹرنیشنل ہسپتال میں علاج کی فوری سہولت فراہم کرنے، ان کے ذاتی معالجین کی جانب سے طبی معائنہ کرنے اور اپنے وکلاء… pic.twitter.com/yStGdyipmJ
The opposition alliance demanded that former prime minister Ian Khan be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised medical treatment and be allowed access to his personal physicians. It called for an end to restrictions on his access to lawyers and family members, describing him as “unjustly imprisoned” and demanding his release.
TTAP condemned what it termed the government’s continued “unlawful secrecy” regarding Ian Khan’s health and medical treatment. It reiterated that he should be examined by his personal doctors, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf.
Opposition leaders expressed concern over the alleged withholding of medical reports and test results from his family, warning that any criminal negligence regarding his health could aggravate the country’s political crisis.
They also raised concerns over the health of detained Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Khan, Bushra Bibi, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ali Wazir and Mahrang Baloch.
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The alliance criticised the government over deteriorating economic conditions, attributing them to what it described as incompetence. Citing recently released figures, opposition leaders claimed that poverty had risen to 29 per cent and unemployment had reached a 21-year high.
They said that despite official claims of major economic agreements, both foreign and domestic investment had declined sharply. According to the opposition, the reported exit of hundreds of multinational companies from the Pakistani market in recent months reflected a worsening risk profile.
The leaders also criticised the reported purchase of Gulfstream jet aircraft worth billions from the public treasury, alleging that the move, coupled with what they termed misleading justifications, had added to public grievances.
They maintained that as long as questions persisted regarding the government’s popularity and legal legitimacy, and as long as it continued to undermine the judicial system and rule of law, prospects for investment and economic recovery would remain limited.
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The opposition announced that in the coming months it would present an alternative budget and policy proposals, prepared with the assistance of experts, aimed at offering solutions to the country’s economic and legal crises.
The TTAP leadership also expressed concern over escalating regional tensions, alleging that the United States and Israel were seeking to encircle Iran and justify military action against it. Leaders pointed to what they described as large-scale US naval and military preparations in the Middle East.
They warned that any possible US attack on Iran could lead to regional devastation and urged the government to play a diplomatic role in preventing such an outcome.
The opposition further criticised the government’s reported decision to join US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, warning that participation by Pakistan and other Muslim countries could strengthen Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and contribute to the prospect of war against Iran.
According to the alliance, the proposed “Board of Peace” was being positioned as a non-representative alternative to the United Nations, and the exclusion of Palestinians from it revealed its underlying intentions. It asserted that Pakistan should not be part of any such initiative.