Opposition alliance agrees on joint effort for judiciary, parliament's independence

• Political alliances mull issues "compromising national interest".
• GDA invited to join Achakzai-led TTAP, confirms Asad Qaiser.
• All anti-govt parties invited to upcoming meeting in Islamabad.
  

KARACHI: Amid a prospective anti-government movement by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the opposition parties have agreed to work together for the supremacy of the Constitution and independence of the judiciary and parliament in the country, The News reported on Sunday.

The agreement came during the initial formal contact between the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) leaders and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA).

During their meeting with Pir Sahab Pagara, the TTP delegation — comprising Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PTI's Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Sardar Lateef Khosa, Nasir Sheerazi, Haleem Adil Sheikh, Hamid Raza, Sajid Tareen and others — extended an invitation the GDA to join their multi-party alliance.

Meanwhile, the GDA leaders part of the meeting included Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi, Dr Safdar Abbasi, Dr Fahmida Mirza, Liaquat Jatoi, Syed Zain Shah, Sardar Abdul Rahim, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Syed Muhammad Rashid Shah, Irfanullah Khan Marwat and others.

The meeting came after opposition parties decided to strengthen their anti-government alliance and announced a three-day visit to Sindh.

The contact drive comes against the backdrop of PTI founder Imran Khan's directives to the party with instructions to expedite "establishing contact with other opposition parties for protests after Eid".

Ex-PM and convener of Awaam Pakistan Party Abbasi has confirmed that TTAP chief Achakzai had consulted him on the national conference being held on February 26-27.

Committees

Meanwhile, speaking to the media after the TTAP-GDA meeting, Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi said that both sides held a detailed discussion on issues related to safeguarding Pakistan and its people.

The politician confirmed that a meeting in Islamabad on February 26 and 27 would further discuss these issues.

Meanwhile, GDA's Dr Fahmida Mirza remarked the huddle between the two political alliances discussed issues "compromising the national interest". She censured the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment and amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca), terming them draconian laws.

Dr Mirza further noted that both the TTAP and GDA would form committees as the next step to work together to achieve a common agenda.

Whereas Dr Safdar Abbasi said the two alliances were on the same page on various political issues and were united in their stance against building new canals on the Indus River at the cost of the water rights of the people of Sindh.

Achakzai said he was pleased to meet and listen to Pir Pagara whose grandfather had strived for the independence of the country.

Furthermore, PTI's Secretary-General Raja said the two alliances would work together not to gain power but to strive collectively to secure the rights of the people.

Former National Assembly speaker Qasier opined all the anti-government parties had been invited to the upcoming grand meeting in Islamabad. He said they were very disappointed with the Pakistan Peoples Party ruling in Sindh.

Responding to a question Qaiser confirmed that the TTAP had invited the GDA to join them saying that both alliances would work for the supremacy of the Constitution.