ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s parliamentary party on Monday called for a new democratic charter, the restructuring of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), and the holding of elections to enable genuine representatives of the people to form a stable government.
The forum, which met at Parliament House before the commencement of a new session of the National Assembly, discussed a host of political issues. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan presided over the meeting.
The gathering passed a resolution stating: “This parliamentary party reiterates that the country is currently passing through a very delicate and complex political period. In this regard, it is demanded that all democratic forces agree on a new democratic charter, keeping in view the urgent need of the hour, i.e., the restructuring of an election commission that is acceptable to all parties.” Similarly, it emphasised that “transparent, free, and fair new elections must also be ensured so that genuine representatives of the people can be elected and form a democratic and stable government in the country.”
The meeting, attended by the party’s National Assembly members, took a clear stand in favour of all political prisoners, including PTI founder Imran Khan, and demanded that all “false, baseless, and politically motivated cases” against them be dropped immediately.
“These measures are not only against the personal and political freedom of these individuals but also constitute a serious violation of democratic processes and civil rights,” the resolution noted.
It further demanded that Imran Khan’s family members be allowed to meet him legally, his political meetings and contacts be permitted to continue without hindrance in recognition of his legal rights, and that no steps be taken against the political leader that undermine the basic pillars of parliamentary democracy, civil rights and legal norms.
The parliamentary party stressed that justice and legal equality must be ensured for all political prisoners so that individual rights are protected and democratic process, transparency and public representation can be restored in the country.
“This parliamentary party pays tribute to the successful visit of the leaders of the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan to Lahore, during which examples of democratic struggle were seen under their leadership. The lathi-charge on workers, illegal obstructions and police brutality are strongly condemned. These actions not only reflect fascist behaviour but are also against democratic values and civil rights,” the resolution stated.
It congratulated the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and his team on their successful visit to Karachi, while strongly condemning the Sindh government for “creating obstacles” during the visit—acts described as contrary to democratic traditions and constitutional values.
The meeting clarified that the Sindh government had initially promised to provide security but later created hurdles during the KP chief minister’s visit, including what was termed the “cultural insult” of the Ajrak and Sindhi topi, which was labeled a clear violation of Sindh’s traditions.
Tribute was paid to the people of Lahore, Karachi, Punjab and Sindh, who “demonstrated their feelings and support for Imran Khan and the PTI in large numbers.” The forum strongly condemned what it called the “unconstitutional and undemocratic obstruction” of the KP CM Sohail Afridi in Sindh, the “unjustified arrests” of PTI workers, and any attempt to suppress the constitutional right of assembly.
It claimed these measures violate fundamental constitutional rights—including freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and free movement—and seriously undermine principles of harmony, mutual respect, and parliamentary democracy among the federating units.
The resolution demanded that the unanimous declaration of the peace jirga convened by the PTI, in which all political parties participated for establishing lasting peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, be fully accepted and implemented immediately and effectively.
The meeting also paid tribute to all PTI members of the National and provincial assemblies for their “democratic struggle and sacrifices” for the country. “The parliamentary party makes it clear that these sacrifices will not be allowed to go in vain,” it asserted, while specifically acknowledging the contributions of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, Zartaj Gul, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Latif Chitrali, Ahmed Chhatta, Bilal Ijaz, Ehsan Virk, Rana Faraz Noon, Rai Haider Ali, Rai Hassan Nawaz and Jamshed Dasti, who were “undemocratically” de-seated.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, meanehile, said the government has now come out of ‘super-speed’ and is looking for a ‘wonder boy’. Informally talking to the media here outside the Parliament House, he also emphasised that the government should notify the opposition leader soon so that it does not become a victim of ‘home alone’.
PTI and its allied parties had formally proposed Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri as leader of opposition in the Senate while Mahmood Khan Achakzai as leader of opposition in the National Assembly some months back.
He criticised the government for its policies and said that the year is new but Pakistan’s problems are the same old ones. “ KP CM Sohail Afridi’s visit to Sindh was very good but the Sindh government’s attitude on the last day was not democratic,” he charged. Barrister Gohar said that the Sindh government should have taken care of the ‘topi and ajrak.’
