A delegation of the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), including Senate opposition leader Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI leaders, on Friday invited Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman to participate in a multiparty conference proposed by the opposition alliance. The opposition had first announced its intention to hold MPC on Sept 11, with the PTI leading the initiative. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had outlined plans to hold the conference, saying that “the current law and order situation, the economy, inflation, lawlessness, and the creation of new provinces issue” called for such measures. On Friday, the delegation met the JI chief and discussed the country’s overall political situation, democratic process, supremacy of the Constitution and other national issues, according to a statement shared by TTAP on social media platform X. > The statement said the participants stressed the “need to make communication and consultation among democratic and political forces more effective to promote political stability, strengthen democratic traditions and ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and law”. The participants agreed that dialogue and cooperation among political parties was essential for safeguarding national interests, democratic values and constitutional supremacy, it added. In a separate meeting, under the leadership of Senator Abbas, a TTAP delegation met former prime minister and Chairman of the Awam Pakistan Party Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at his residence. “During the meeting, a detailed exchange of views took place on the country’s overall political situation, the democratic process, the supremacy of the Constitution, and national issues,” the statement said. The delegation also invited Abbasi to participate in the MPC organised under the auspices of TTAP, it added. On the occasion, TTAP Vice Chairman and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, as well as TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai, were also present. “The meeting emphasised the need to continue the process of communication and consultation among all political forces for political stability in the country, the promotion of democratic traditions, and the supremacy of the Constitution,” the statement said. > Barrister Gohar had announced the multiparty moot last month after a meeting with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leaders, who have also agreed to attend the opposition’s moot. Earlier this week, the opposition alliance also invited PPP to attend the multiparty moot, which the ruling ally welcomed. Speaking to _Dawn_ earlier this week, TTAP spokesperson Yousafzai said the MPC would be held after PTI’s protest, which is scheduled for Oct 4 to demand the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan. The TTAP has also formed a six-member committee to hold consultations with political parties and reach an agreement on the agenda for the proposed MPC. The development also comes as the federal government is set to hold talks with the opposition ahead of the October 4 protest. ## ‘All parties must consult’ Speaking at a joint media talk after the meetings, Abbas said all political parties had a responsibility to sit together and consult on the current situation in Pakistan. “All the parties that have a history in Pakistan, in forming and writing the Constitution, all the parties which might be in opposition or otherwise, it is their responsibility to sit and do mutual consultations and discuss this current situation in Pakistan, including the lackings in peace, politics, and economics, and take Pakistan out of it,” he said. “We met Hafiz Naeem today, grateful to him. Right now, there is an agenda for the All Parties Conference. Political parties should sit and discuss Pakistan’s problems, do an assessment of all the problems and then find a way out for all that,” he said. The senator said the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly over the imposition of governor rule and emergency ahead of PTI’s October 4 protest call, also came under discussion during the meeting. “On that, we have consensus that there should not be an emergency,” he said, adding that he was grateful to Hafiz Naeem for speaking against emergency and governor’s rule. “These things will not strengthen Pakistan but instead further destabilise it and Pakistan will have more crises,” he said. He said Barrister Gohar and PTI leaders Salman Akram Raja, Amir Dogar, Haleem Adil Sheikh and Asad Qaiser were also part of the delegation. “I believe if all parties meet like this, we can take Pakistan out of crisis. They have the ability, the potential. Earlier also, whenever they’ve stepped into the field, they’ve given solutions, shown the way,” he said. Meanwhile, JI chief thanked Abbas and the other members of the delegation, saying the two sides had held a “good discussion”. “As far as the All Parties Conference is concerned, JI accepts this invitation and [..] we will take part,” he said, adding that “a national agenda right now is necessary” and “urgently needed”. > He said the agenda should cover law and order, the economic situation and the rights of the people, with political forces reaching consensus on these issues. “We work along with the people to recover Pakistan so the country can move forward and progress,” he said. Rehman said the division of people into groups, with the perception that only a certain group could rule while the same people governed the economy, society and politics and the common people remained on the other side, needed to end. “That is why it is important to sit and discuss, come to a common ground, which is why I appreciate this,” he said. On the governor’s rule in KP and the proposal for an emergency in the province, Rehman said JI had opposed such measures in the past as well. “JI will not accept anything that suspends or disregards the Constitution or ruins any running system to achieve certain agendas. Any steps taken for it, JI will not support,” he said. “We don’t accept governor’s rule in KP. Similarly, we will not accept emergency under any conditions, and we oppose it,” he added. Rehman said the government should have held consultations and talks with the opposition earlier over PTI’s demands, adding that the delay had further deteriorated the situation. “Now that a committee has been formed, I consider it a good thing, but it should be meaningful instead of just sitting and doing a photo session,” he said. “It should reach a conclusion.” On PTI’s demands, he said they were “straightforward”, arguing that PTI founder was in jail and party members were unable to meet him. “This is not acceptable under any circumstances. They should be given access to meet,” he said. Regarding speculation about Imran’s health, Rehman said all concerns should be addressed, regardless of political differences. “Even if there is a political opponent, even then, considering that he is a human and an important political personality, ex-premier, how can this be ignored?” he said. “All the reservations regarding his health should be addressed, and the Supreme Court’s decision should be implemented in its spirit,” he said, referring to the SC’s August 18 order directing Imran’s transfer to a private medical facility. Rehman said PTI’s demands were “reasonable”, particularly those concerning the arrest of Imran’s sisters and Dr Yasmin Rashid, whom he described as unwell.

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The right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party in Pakistan temporarily halted a protest march in Islamabad following a request from the prime minister. The decision came amid heightened political tensions, as t… · Photo : markovucicevic · CC BY-SA · Flickr

Protesters march on Islamabad over soaring fuel prices: Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party has launched a protest march towards Islamabad over soaring fuel prices. #Protest #FuelPrices #Islamabad #JamaatEIslami #Pakistan

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Tuesday that the party had postponed its long march until the first week of October at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while making it clear that its protest campaign would continue. Addressing a press conference in Multan, Hafiz Naeem said the JI was raising issues […]

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday said his party was postponing its long march to Islamabad against the petroleum levy at the request of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pending a meeting with him. Rehman, along with other party leaders, announced the decision during a press conference in Multan, where his caravan arrived on Monday night as part of the long march JI had launched the day before. The decision comes after a phone call between PM Shehbaz and the JI chief, in which the premier urged the latter to “postpone the sit-in”, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Both leaders agreed to meet after PM Shehbaz returned from his official visit to the United States, and to “continue further consultation on this matter”, the statement said. > Addressing media in Multan, Rehman recalled that he received the prime minister’s phone call last night and sought time to consult his party leaders on the request to postpone the march. Announcing JI’s plan of action after “very lengthy” party consultations, Rehman said: “We will not step back from our protests. We will not step back from our long march either. “However, we just want to give a chance to the government, as the prime minister has gotten involved for the first time. So, we will meet him, listen to what he has to say and present our arguments. We are a sensible party.” The JI chief added, “On that day, if he announces that the government is ready to give this relief, then it is fine; otherwise, we have the first week of October, and we will continue our long march with the same force.” > Nonetheless, Rehman declared that party workers will remain on the ground, while protest camps and sit-ins will also continue until the meeting. He asserted that JI would not step back from the protests due to the “fragile situation” as claimed by the government. “The government is responsible for this situation,” he said. He reiterated that JI’s agenda was not to spread unrest or violence in Islamabad. At the outset of his press conference, Rehman reiterated that his party was protesting against exorbitant electricity and fuel prices. He recalled that his party launched the protest movement against the “unjustified” petroleum levy on August 7, claiming they had held demonstrations at 510 locations and were staging sit-ins at 42 sites across the country. Commenting on the four rounds of talks held with the government to discuss recommendations to reduce the petroleum levy, the JI chief alleged that the government could not accept its plan as it was “under pressure” from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “We have no political or personal agenda. This is the problem of 250 million people of Pakistan,” the JI emir stated, stressing that the rise in petroleum prices results in inflation and impacts the public. Rehman again criticised the Prime Minister Fuel Relief Scheme, which took effect from Sept 17 and offers a quota-based subsidy of Rs100 per litre for two- and three-wheeled vehicles. The JI chief contended that although the government had announced Rs25 billion in relief for a month, it was levying Rs150bn monthly on fuel prices. The party has been staging regular sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and dozens of other locations across the country since August 16 to protest the levy. On Sunday, the JI launched its protest march towards Islamabad, warning that if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy, the protest could turn into one to oust the government. The move coincided with the PTI gearing up for its own long march in Islamabad on Sept 27 for the release of incarcerated ex-premier Imran Khan. Over the weekend, Information Min­ister Attaullah Tarar said the government would not allow any violent group to reach Islamabad or block roads. In response to the PTI in particular, the government has warned the party against proceeding with its planned protest and vowed a full government response if it went ahead.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced the postponement of the JI Islamabad long march against the petroleum levy.

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded the complete withdrawal of the petroleum levy, saying the measure is necessary to provide relief to the public amid rising inflation. Addressing a press conference in Sukkur, Hafiz Naeem said five rounds of negotiations had been held over the petroleum levy. He said the government claimed it […]

Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party has launched a protest march towards Islamabad over soaring fuel prices.

Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami party has launched a protest march towards Islamabad over soaring fuel prices.