Fazlur Rehman Meets PTI Leadership, Parties Agree on Proposed Charter of Democracy
Opposition Parties Considering All-Parties Conference on November 9 or 10, Says Asad Qaiser
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman held an important meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and proposed a new Charter of Democracy, a proposal that the PTI leadership has agreed to consider. Opposition parties are also planning to convene an All-Parties Conference (APC) to discuss the initiative.
According to Express News, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, accompanied by a delegation, met Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. The meeting discussed the prevailing political situation, constitutional and democratic issues, and cooperation among opposition parties.
Participants strongly condemned the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the measures as contrary to public sovereignty and democratic principles.
They also expressed serious concern over the arrests of PTI’s detained chief minister, the provincial assembly speaker and members of the National Assembly. Opposition leaders called for the immediate release of political prisoners and the protection of political freedoms.
The meeting included detailed consultations on holding an All-Parties Conference. Participants supported Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s proposal for a new Charter of Democracy and agreed that all political parties should work towards a new democratic agreement to help the country overcome its current political challenges.
The proposed APC was described as an important first step towards developing the new Charter of Democracy.
The PTI delegation included Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Asad Qaiser, Barrister Ali Zafar, Aamir Mahmood Kiani Dogar, Zain Qureshi and Akhundzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai. The JUI-F delegation comprised Senator Kamran Murtaza, Mir Younas Zehri and Usman Badini.
PTI Leadership Holds Follow-Up Meeting
Following the meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PTI leaders held a separate meeting to discuss his proposal in detail. The party subsequently agreed to consider the proposed Charter of Democracy.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, PTI Chairman Barrister Ali Zafar said the terms and conditions of the proposed charter would be developed through consultation.
“Maulana Sahib has proposed a Charter of Democracy, and we are consulting on the proposal,” he said, adding that the party would make a decision after careful deliberation.
He said the PTI believed peace should prevail in the country and that all stakeholders needed to be taken on board to achieve that objective. He added that the party was examining the proposal and would decide on its future course after consultations.
APC Being Planned for November 9 or 10
Speaking to the media, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the government had failed on the economic, administrative and governance fronts.
He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman had proposed a Charter of Democracy and that opposition parties were now planning to convene an All-Parties Conference to discuss the initiative.
“The date has not yet been finalised, but we are considering holding the APC on November 9 or 10,” Asad Qaiser said.
The proposed conference is expected to provide a platform for opposition parties to discuss the political situation, democratic principles and a possible joint framework for addressing the country’s challenges.
