ISLAMABAD: The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Wednesday that it would convene a “national conference” later this month aimed at addressing the country’s ongoing political and economic crises.
The event, scheduled for December 20-21, will focus on presenting a “national agenda” to navigate the current instability, PTI leader Asad Qaiser revealed during a press briefing following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary committee.
Qaiser described the country’s political and economic landscape as fraught with “serious instability and uncertainty” and called on the opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), to lead efforts in uniting political parties, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders to find solutions.
“The country is grappling with serious issues, and TTAP’s responsibility is to bring all parties together for discussions and to chart a way forward,” he added.
He pointed to the declining commercial activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the exodus of multinational companies as stark indicators of Pakistan’s deteriorating economic situation.
“The international environment is tense, and economic activity is in decline. We believe TTAP is the only platform capable of delivering a message of hope and action,” Qaiser said.
In a separate development, Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the Prime Minister’s coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs, delivered a sharp rebuke to PTI, declaring that the situation had reached a “point of no return.”
He warned that any further tolerance towards PTI was no longer possible. “We have endured PTI for the sake of democracy, but there is no more mercy,” he declared, indicating that hopes for dialogue had effectively ended.
He added that PTI supporters were undermining the country’s sovereignty and progress.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali, speaking outside Parliament House, called for “common sense to prevail” amid escalating tensions.
Reflecting on PTI’s claims of election fraud in 2018, he asserted, “We did not take to the streets when our mandate was stolen. We came to Parliament in good faith, believing our voices would be heard. Now, it is time for common sense to prevail.”
He also condemned the restrictions placed on meetings with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, urging the government to respect court orders allowing visits.
“How can you ask the children to meet with you when their parents are in jail?” he remarked, highlighting the deepening political divide due to Khan’s detention.
The PTI leader reiterated that the former prime minister continued to enjoy widespread support, claiming that “70 percent of Pakistanis stand with Imran Khan,” and urged the government to heed the court’s decision and cease further interference.
“We are a peaceful party, and we will continue to operate within the framework of the constitution,” he added, calling on the ruling coalition to avoid actions that would escalate the crisis.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), also weighed in, underscoring the necessity of dialogue between the opposition and the government.
He emphasized that any meaningful talks would be impossible without the restoration of Imran Khan’s visitation rights, asking, “How can negotiations proceed without his approval?
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025