ISLAMABAD: A conference held under the auspices of National Dialogue Committee (NDC) here on Wednesday urged President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to hold talks with the opposition.
The opposition alliance, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan, as well as its major component, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, were invited to the conference but declined to participate.
According to a joint declaration issued at the end of the proceedings, the conference proposed that the ruling coalition leadership should hold talks on behalf of the government.
After the government committee is announced, the NDC, in consultation with the senior opposition leadership imprisoned in jail, will announce the names of the opposition committee.
Participants agreed to start a fruitful dialogue process and decided that, in this regard, the government and the opposition should form separate committees consisting of their respective representatives to initiate the process.
The meeting also suggested certain measures as ‘confidence-building measures.’ It stated that restrictions on political activities should be lifted, with complete freedom ensured within the framework of the Constitution and law. The meeting called for opposition leaders to be appointed in the Senate and National Assembly and urged that neither the government nor the opposition use the Pakistan Armed Forces for their politics or engage in negative propaganda. It demanded the immediate release of all female workers, including Bushra Bibi and Yasmin Rashid, and that they be provided with medical facilities. The conference further called for cases against political activists to be dropped and for those imprisoned to be released immediately. It also advocated for the lifting of censorship imposed on the media and removal of restrictions on anchors.
The gathering of the country’s national political parties, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers and relevant stakeholders was organised at the invitation of the NDC.
The meeting expressed concern over the political unrest in the country, the economic difficulties facing the country and its people, restrictions on political activities and media, and the challenge of terrorism.
Agreeing on the importance of promoting unity and solidarity and reducing political tension, the meeting appreciated the NDC’s efforts to act as a bridge between the government and opposition. It suggested that comprehensive, concrete and practical steps be taken immediately for dialogue and confidence-building at the national level.
The meeting paid tribute to the sacrifices of all security forces, including Pakistan’s army, police and Rangers, in the fight against terrorism. It prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and for patience for their families. The meeting reiterated that the entire nation is united for the integrity, defence, security, dignity, honor and respect of Pakistan’s institutions.
The meeting agreed to continue the process of contacts and dialogue at the national level. The NDC will continue its role in this regard in the national and public interest.
Former prime minister and Awam Pakistan party head Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch, former Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar, former PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat and some senior journalists attended the conference.
Former PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Mahmood Moulvi, and ex-senator Dr Shahzad Waseem, are mainly behind the move to promote political stability and find solutions to the challenges Pakistan faces today.
Meanwhile, renegade PTI founding member Akbar S Babar said the NDC declaration is a true reflection of Pakistan’s self-serving politics. Babar contended that the declaration is proof that even if politicians are criminals in the eyes of the law, they consider themselves above the law. He added that the declaration shows that law and prison are only for ordinary citizens.
“Even if influential politicians engage in anti-national politics, defame the country, loot national resources, create chaos in society, attack institutions, facilitate terrorists and destroy the country’s economy, they are above accountability,” he charged. He maintained that this is not the time to impose such politics again but to bury it forever.
