Opposition agrees to set differences aside and fight it out in Parliament

Islamabad saw a rare display of unity among Pakistan’s fragmented opposition parties on Tuesday, as they decided to set aside their differences and contest their grievances in the parliamentary arena. The decision came at their first joint parliamentary meeting, chaired by opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

The opposition coalition, comprising leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Raja Nasir Abbas, and Gohar Ali Khan, was united by a common concern: the perceived erosion of democratic norms and the weakening of Parliament's authority. Achakzai, in his address, sternly warned the military and intelligence agencies against encroaching upon their constitutional roles, threatening to intensify political confrontation if their concerns were ignored.

The opposition leaders emphasized the need to hold politicians accountable for past decisions that contributed to the weakening of civilian institutions, including Parliament, the judiciary, and the press. They urged their members to pledge never again to support undemocratic forces that violate the Constitution.

Addressing grievances in North and South Waziristan, the Mahsud and Afridi tribes, Bajaur, and Tirah, Achakzai called for addressing these issues with the involvement of the local population rather than imposing decisions from above. He also reiterated the opposition's demand for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other political detainees, and condemned the imprisonment of thousands of individuals exercising their constitutional right to assemble.

The opposition parties agreed to coordinate their positions on various national issues, including inflation, law and order, the judiciary, the economy, terrorism, political prisoners, and the proposed creation of new provinces. While JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman rejected proposals for new administrative units, the opposition vowed to turn their shared grievance into an effective parliamentary force.