Opposition alliance urges national counterterrorism strategy with provinces, citing rising attacks in KP, Balochistan
\n islamabad
\nThe Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan), a bloc of opposition parties, has decided to give a positive but conditional response to the government\u2019s offer for dialogue, sources said on Wednesday.
\nA high-level consultative meeting was held in Islamabad, attended by TTA leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri, Aam Awam Party chief Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Asad Qaiser, Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai, and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry. The session focused on the current political situation, recent government statements, and a possible framework for negotiations.
\nSources told The Express Tribune that participants reviewed the government\u2019s offer in detail, with particular attention to statements made by PM\u2019s political aide Rana Sanaullah, and assessed the environment for meaningful dialogue. The huddle agreed that any talks should uphold constitutional supremacy and democratic principles, according to sources.
\nDuring the meeting, it was proposed that the alliance\u2019s designated leaders formally engage with the government to advance the negotiation process. Following consensus, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri were given full authority to lead the negotiations.
\nSources said the TTAP leadership plans to contact government leaders during Ramazan to discuss the agenda, procedures, and potential timelines for talks. Opposition circles stressed that their priority is constitutional integrity, political stability, and the restoration of democratic processes.
\nMeanwhile, PTI leader Junaid Akbar expressed support for conditional negotiations, stating that political parties are committed to dialogue and resolving issues through reconciliation. He added that ending confrontation with institutions is crucial, but the government must also adopt a serious approach.
\nConfirming progress, another PTI leader Atif Khan said all alliance parties attended the recent meeting and expressed full confidence in the two designated leaders. He added that the government will receive a formal response, and the public will be kept informed to ensure transparency in the process. The government had extended a fresh olive branch to the opposition. The offer came from Sanaullah in response to a speech in the Senate by opposition leader, who had demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee to meet the incarcerated former prime minister, Ian Khan, and examine his health condition.
\n\u201cLet us sit together to strengthen and take forward the charter of democracy,\u201d Sanaullah said last week, adding that the government was ready for dialogue to strengthen democracy and avoid confrontation and deadlock.
\n \u201cWe are ready to sit with you for the betterment of the country,\u201d he asserted, maintaining that parties in the current ruling coalition had stressed the need for talks even when the PTI was in power.
\nMeanwhile on Thursday, the TTAP leadership expressed grave concern over a recent surge in terrorist attacks across the country and urged the government to formulate a comprehensive national strategy on terrorism.
\nAt a meeting of the alliance\u2019s central committee held at the residence of Khokhar during an iftar gathering in Islamabad, participants voiced concern over escalating attacks, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Participants urged the federal government to formulate a comprehensive national counterterrorism strategy in consultation with provincial governments, political stakeholders and the public.
\nIn a statement issued after a meeting, the alliance also voiced alarm over what it described as a worsening dispute with Afghanistan and called on both countries to avoid further confrontation. It urged the initiation of \u201cserious, sincere and meaningful negotiations\u201d to address the issue of terrorism, suggesting engagement with neighbouring countries as well as friendly governments such as Saudi Arabia and T\u00fcrkiye to prevent further bloodshed and external interference in Pakistan and the wider region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Opposition alliance urges national counterterrorism strategy with provinces, citing rising attacks in KP, Balochistan islamabad The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan), a bloc of opposition parties, has decided to give a positive but conditional response to the government\u2019s offer for dialogue, sources said on Wednesday. A high-level consultative meeting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":533695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-533682","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n