TTAP signals willingness to engage government in negotiations on constitutional protection

The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) has decided to respond positively to the government’s offer for talks on constitutional protection, sources in the opposition alliance said. The Express PK Press Club following a consultative meeting held in Islamabad the previous day.

The meeting was attended by senior opposition leaders including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. Other participants included Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Asad Qaiser, Ikhwanzada Hussain Yousafzai and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, according to sources.

During the session, members deliberated on the government’s negotiation offer and considered statements made by the Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leadership has advised the alliance leaders to get in touch with the government, sources added.

Following the meeting, Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas were authorized to take the negotiation process forward. Alliance leaders plan to hold discussions with key government figures during Ramazan.

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PTI leader Junaid Akbar expressed conditional support for the talks, saying: “We are political actors and believe in the negotiation process. We want to resolve issues through compromise and dialogue… but the government must also correct its approach.”

Another senior leader, Atif Khan, confirmed the progress, saying: “The session of the opposition alliance included all member parties. Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas were in charge of the negotiations. We will respond officially to the government and inform the public that our position has been communicated. We support dialogue for Pakistan and the Constitution.”

The government has extended a new olive branch to the opposition. The offer came from Sanaullah in response to a speech in the Senate by the opposition leader, who had demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee to meet incarcerated former prime minister Ian Khan and examine his health.

“Let us sit down together to strengthen and advance the charter of democracy,” Sanaullah said last week, adding that the government was ready for dialogue to strengthen democracy and avoid confrontation and deadlock. “We are ready to sit down with you for the sake of the country,” he said, asserting that the parties in the current ruling coalition had stressed the need for talks even when the PTI was in power.

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Meanwhile, TTAP leaders on Thursday expressed deep concern over the recent surge in terrorist attacks across the country and urged the government to formulate a comprehensive national strategy against terrorism.

At a meeting of the alliance’s central committee held at Khokhar’s residence during an iftar in Islamabad, participants expressed concern over escalating attacks, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Participants urged the federal government to formulate a comprehensive national counter-terrorism strategy in consultation with provincial governments, political stakeholders and the public.

The opposition also expressed concern over what it described as a worsening conflict with Afghanistan and called on both countries to avoid further confrontations. He called for the opening of “serious, sincere and meaningful negotiations” to address the issue of terrorism, suggesting engagement with neighboring countries as well as friendly governments such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey to prevent further bloodshed and external interference in Pakistan and the wider region.

The alliance demanded that former Prime Minister Ian Khan be immediately transferred to Shifa International Hospital for specialist medical treatment and given access to his personal doctors. He called for an end to restrictions on his access to lawyers and family members, describing him as “unjustly imprisoned” and demanding his release.

TTAP has condemned what it calls the government’s continued “unlawful secrecy” regarding Ian Khan’s health and medical treatment. He reiterated that he should be examined by his personal doctors, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Asim Yousaf.

Opposition leaders have expressed concern over the alleged withholding of his family’s medical reports and test results, warning that any criminal negligence regarding his health could worsen the country’s political crisis.

They also raised concerns over the health of Ittehad Sunni Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Khan, Bushra Bibi, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ali Wazir and Mahrang Baloch.

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The alliance criticized the government for deteriorating economic conditions, attributing them to what it called incompetence. Citing recently released figures, opposition leaders said poverty had reached 29 percent and unemployment had reached its highest level in 21 years.

They said that despite official claims of major economic deals, foreign and domestic investment had declined sharply. According to the opposition, the announced exit of hundreds of multinational companies from the Pakistani market in recent months reflects a worsening risk profile.

The executives also criticized the alleged purchase of Gulfstream jets worth billions from the public treasury, alleging the move, coupled with what they called misleading justifications, added to public grievances.

They said that as long as questions persist about the government’s popularity and legal legitimacy, and as long as it continues to undermine the justice system and the rule of law, prospects for investment and economic recovery will remain limited.

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The opposition announced that it would present in the coming months an alternative budget and policy proposals, prepared with the help of experts, aimed at proposing solutions to the country’s economic and legal crises.

TTAP leaders also expressed concern over escalating regional tensions, alleging that the United States and Israel sought to encircle Iran and justify military action against it. The leaders highlighted what they described as large-scale U.S. naval and military preparations in the Middle East.

They warned that any possible U.S. attack on Iran could lead to regional devastation and urged the government to play a diplomatic role to prevent such an outcome.

The opposition further criticized the government’s decision to join US President Donald Trump’s “Peace Council”, warning that the participation of Pakistan and other Muslim countries could strengthen the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and contribute to the prospect of war against Iran.

According to the alliance, the proposed “Peace Council” was positioned as an unrepresentative alternative to the United Nations, and the exclusion of Palestinians from this committee revealed its underlying intentions. He said Pakistan should not participate in such an initiative.