ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek-iTahafuz Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Monday hinted at starting a movement against the PML-N government, with the hope that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would lead it, following a consensus among opposition parties to strengthen their alliance with parliamentary coordination.
Tensions between the JUI-F chief and the federal government have escalated since midOctober, particularly after the Maulana criticised the Centre for imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and making the PTI-led provincial government dysfunctional. The JUI-F chief also accused the Centre of reneging on its commitments despite his efforts to mediate between the PML-N and PTI governments.
Speaking to Dawn, TTAP spokesperson Akhundzada Hussain Ahmed Yousufzai warned that it had become apparent that the JUI-F would’meet the same fate as PTI’.
‘It is a war between democratic and undemocratic powers and TTAP will stand by the democratic people,’ the TTAP spokesperson said. ‘We will always support those who are being suppressed,’ he added.Replying to a question, Mr Yousufzai said that during a recent meeting between JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza and TTAP leaders, it was agreed in principle to gather on one platform. ‘It was also decided that soon we will hold a multiparty conference (MPC), so a movement can be started against the government after that.
‘We hope that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be one of the figures who will be leading the movement,’ he said.
On Oct 16, without naming anyone, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had claimed that a ‘head of a party’ was ‘extremely upset over being denied a role in the new set-up in KP and not getting the governorship’.
The next day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry rebuked the Maulana directly, who later clarified his criticism was aimed at policies, not state institutions.
The row played out in parliament as well, where the JUI-F chief questioned the defence minister’s absence and interior minister’s presence at a meeting of Iranian leadership with the Makkah pact countries in Tehran.
In his response the next day, the interior minister explained his participation and went on to assail the JUI-F for ‘continuously crossing the line’ and accused it of ‘extracting wealth from the state’.
On Friday, JUI-F staged protests in different parts of Sindh and Balochistan, decrying what it called a ‘coordinated character assassination campaign’ against its leader.
The JUI-F chief had hinted at launching a street agitation while addressing a workers’ convention in Mansehra earlier this month.
Dialogue, not attacks In a separate statement, the TTAP alleged, ‘disgraceful, derogatory and baseless allegations were being levelled against a distinguished religious scholar, senior politician and respected national political figure’.
The alliance termed the allegations against the JUI-F chief ‘deeply regrettable, shameful and highly condemnable’.
‘Political differences are the beauty of any democratic society; however, targeting someone’s honour, dignity, character and family under the pretext of political disagreement is not only contrary to religious, moral and social traditions but also pushes politicsfurtherinto the depths of hatred, discord and division.
Differences of opinion must be addressed through arguments, logic and political dialogue rather than character assassination, slander and personal attacks.
Such a disgracefuland organised campaign must be stopped immediately, and those involved must abandon this reprehensible practice,’ it stated.
The opposition alliance paid tri-bute to the JUI-F chief for his stance against the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in KP.
According to the TTAP statement, the important constitutional and democratic questions raised by the Maulana and his party on the matter should be addressed by the government through ‘reason, constitutional arguments and the rule of law instead of resorting to character assassination and pressure tactics’.
‘No political leader can be compelled to abandon a principled positionthroughpressure,threats or organised character assassination. Measures such as governor’s rule and emergency in KP are contrary to the spirit of provincial autonomy, the people’s mandate and parliamentary democracy, raising serious constitutional and democratic questions,’ the statement said.
The TTAP said it would vigorously oppose these measures at every constitutional, political, parliamentary and legal forum and continue to highlight their constitutional and democratic implications before the public.
On the other hand, the opposition alliance also expressed ‘deep concern and regret’ over the suspension of hearings by the Peshawar High Court in cases filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, following the Federal Constitutional Court decision. It claimed that closing the doors of justice to citizens and political workers who had approached the PHC was ‘extremely alarming’.
The alliance emphasised that the fundamental responsibility of the judiciary was to protect citizens’ fundamental rights and examine state actions in the light of the Constitution and the law.
Imran, Bushra’s tests It demanded that the complete medical reports of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi following their medical tests conducted at Adiala jail on Sunday be made public immediately to address the concerns and apprehensions surrounding their health.
The TTAP also demanded that the government ensure immediate implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital and the provision of medical treatment in the presence of his personal physicians.