Raja Nasir Abbas proposes national consensus government

Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Saturday proposed the formation of a national government to lead the country out of current difficulties and build a broader national consensus.

Speaking to a private TV channel, he said the opposition had held talks with the ruling authorities, adding that Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai had also written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the prime minister expressed his willingness to establish unconditional dialogue.

He, however, noted that no meeting had taken place so far.

Abbas said the creation of a national government was the best way to save Pakistan’s sinking ship. “Mahmood Khan Achakzai had told them that all parties should sit together and agree on a few points; we will then consult Imran Khan and together bring the country out of the crisis.”

He said the opposition had proposed that Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties should come together to reach a consensus on constitutional supremacy.

This, he added, should include agreement on the people being the ultimate source of power, holding free and fair elections, transfer of power to the winner of the elections, protection of fundamental rights, supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

Read: TTAP criticizes government policies, demands elections and medical care for Imran Khan

Responding to a question about the government’s reaction, Abbas said both sides wanted to find common ground, adding that “this burden can no longer be borne.”

He said a party meeting had been called on Monday to decide on the way forward. “There is a simple way to resolve this problem – a step by which the entire country can come out of the crisis without any damage,” he said, adding that the path suggested by Achakzai should be followed so that Imran can also be released and the country can move forward.

Achakzai, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, has for some time advocated the formation of a national government, believing it to be the only way forward.

Earlier this week, during a public meeting in Pishin, he suggested that in view of the regional situation arising from the Iran-US-Israel conflict, all political parties of Pakistan should sit together to form a national government for one or two years to deal with the worsening situation.

Read also: Opposition bloc agrees to conditional negotiations with government

He also proposed that after the formation of such a structure, an independent and sovereign electoral commission be established to conduct free and fair elections under international guarantees, stressing that true democracy, constitutional supremacy and parliamentary sovereignty were essential to resolving the country’s crises.

Relations between the opposition and the government have remained tense despite several attempts at negotiations in recent months.

Last month, the government presented a new offer for talks, with Senator Rana Sanaullah, an aide to the prime minister, saying he was ready for dialogue to strengthen democracy and avoid confrontation and stalemate.

The opposition alliance responded positively but under conditions; however, no progress has been made since then.