In what comes as a major setback to opposition forces, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) have turned down the proposal to quit the Parliament, a scenario that has seriously undermined the efforts of smaller political groups to launch a full-fledged anti-government campaign.
This development transpired at the much-hyped All Parties Conference (APC) convened by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) here on Wednesday. The event was part of Emir JUI-F Maulana Fazlur Rehman's efforts to launch a collective strategy 'against this unconstitutional government formed on stolen public mandate.'
Even though central opposition figures like Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Asfandyar Wali, Aftab Sherpao, Hasil Bizenjo and Mehmood Khan Achakzai among others showed up at the event, the mainstream political parties remained non-committal to the idea of adopting a decisive course of action against the government. Three former prime ministers - PPP's Yousaf Raza Gillani, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and PML-N's Shahid Khaqan Abbasi - were among the attendees at the moot.
However, in a major shock to Fazl and his party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), an opposition party that contested the general election in alliance with the JUI-F, under the joint umbrella of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), refused to be part of the APC and did not attend the conclave.
Another political group, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), which was lately in contact with the opposition parties in the backdrop of its grievances with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, also distanced itself from the APC.
Instead, the BNP-M delegation led by the party chief Akhtar Mengal held an all important meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday amidst the reports that the PM convinced Mengal to support the Finance Bill 2019 in the National Assembly and assured him to redress the BNP-M's grievances regarding the federal government.
Sources privy to the APC told Business Recorder that Fazl put forth three proposals before the APC; i) the opposition lawmakers should quit the Parliament and provincial assemblies and push for general election, ii) they should lock down the federal capital as part of the anti-government move and iii) they should celebrate July 25 as Black Day to 'mourn' the one year of general election which were held on July 25 last year.
The PML-N delegation led by Shehbaz Sharif and PPP delegation led by Bilawal turned down the idea to quit Parliament and lock down the federal capital, sources said. Both Shehbaz and Bilawal shared unanimity of views in the APC to give a tough time to the government inside the Parliament, it is learnt.
The PML-N and PPP agreed to the proposal to celebrate July 25 as 'Black Day'.
It was agreed that an 11-member committee would be formed to review the suggestions agreed upon in the APC. The committee would comprise Yousaf Raza Gillani, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Rehmatullah Kakar, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Awais Noorani, Farhatullah Babar, Shafiq Pasroori, Usman Kakar and Hasil Bizenjo.
Requesting anonymity, a senior PML-N leader quoted Bilawal as saying that his party has already made it clear that it believes in taking on the government inside the Parliament and that his party has no plans to change this policy in the existing circumstances. Shehbaz seconded Bilawal's view while Maryam remained quiet, the source said.
The development surfaces at a time when the reports are rife suggesting a possible deal between former PM Nawaz Sharif and the powers that be to allow Nawaz and his daughter to fly to the UK on the pretext of the ex-PM's medical treatment. Reports also suggest that Shehbaz and Bilawal are in favour of mending fences with the powerful quarters with a view to getting some relief for Hamza Shehbaz and Asif Ali Zardari respectively, which is why they have refrained from adopting an aggressive strategy against the government.
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali is said to have floated the suggestion to de-seat Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and to have a more 'pro-opposition' chairman Senate in place, during the APC. The proposal has been agreed upon and has been referred to the proposed 11-member committee to decide the candidate for chairman Senate once Sadiq Sanjrani is ousted.
The heads of smaller political groups including Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) chief Aftab Sherpao, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood Achakzai, National Party (NP) chief Hasil Bizenjo, ANP's Asfandyar and Fazlur Rehman himself kept stressing upon the PML-N and PPP to adopt a firm strategy against the government but they did not get a favourable response, according to sources.
"This 'fake' government that has come into power with stolen public mandate does not deserve to be at the helm of affairs. If this government continues, God forbid things can reach the point of no return," Maryam told the media before leaving the APC venue while the meeting was still underway and joint declaration was not issued.
She did not offer a direct response when asked if the opposition parties had decided to dislodge the government. "Consultations would continue but I think a decisive strategy needs to be in place to take this government to task or else, the people would keep suffering," she said adding the removal of "chairman Senate would shake the very foundation of this government."
Addressing a press conference along with Shehbaz and Bilawal at the conclusion of APC, Maulana Fazlur Rehman read out the joint declaration of the moot. According to the declaration, the APC decided to launch a public coordination campaign to mobilise public opinion against the government. The 11-member committee to be formed to review the proposals of APC would be known as 'Rahbar Committee.' The parliamentary committee formed to investigate alleged rigging in last year's general polls should be dissolved. A parliamentary committee comprising of government and opposition members should be formed to investigate loans, grants and debts taken by respective governments since the year 2000. July 25 would be observed as Black Day. All detention centres in erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) be abolished and replaced with legal prisons. People kept in these detention centres should be released. Production orders for two detained lawmakers from erstwhile FATA should be issued. Deployment of military personnel inside polling stations during general polls is opposed. The name of new chairman Senate would be finalised by Rahbar Committee. Newly formed National Development Council (NDC) should be abolished. A parliamentary panel should be formed to probe recent incidents in Waziristan to bring truth before public. Opposition parties would hold joint public gatherings in all the four provinces against the government. Politically motivated cases/ references made against judges should be withdrawn. Legislation for appointment of judges and reforms in judiciary should be done. Rahbar Committee would be tasked to ensure implementation of decisions taken in APC. All the recommendations of Rahbar Committee would be implemented.
The joint declaration, however, did not have a mention of the proposals regarding collective resignations of opposition lawmakers from the Parliament and provincial assemblies and lockdown of the federal capital due to the reason that PML-N and PPP opposed these suggestions, according to sources.
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