Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has said the incumbent government lacks the mandate to make fundamental changes to Pakistan’s governance and federal structure, urging political parties to unite around constitutional rule and the rule of law.
Speaking on Geo News programme Capital Talk, Raja said the PTI’s recent discussions with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman were based on shared principles.
He said political developments over the past four years had left the country in a difficult situation, particularly in terms of constitutional governance and the rule of law.
Raja said any political party that agreed with the PTI on these principles could work with it, regardless of past political differences.
He strongly opposed proposals to restructure the country’s federal system, describing attempts to overhaul the existing governance structure as “hazardous”.
“The Form 47 assembly has no mandate to revamp the country’s system or governance structures,” he said.
The PTI leader said his party was willing to cooperate with political forces seeking to strengthen constitutional institutions, ensure judicial independence and reject what he described as rule through force.
He said the PTI’s focus remained on its principles and objectives and that it was not dependent on any particular political alliance.
On the PTI’s planned long march on September 27, Raja said the party would welcome other political groups willing to participate.
He said any decision regarding participation would be taken through the PTI’s core and political committees after assessing the objectives and intentions of parties seeking to join the march.
Raja’s remarks came days after JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman met National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and other opposition leaders. The meeting resulted in an agreement to form a “united opposition” and continue consultations on a joint political course.
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose party is allied with the government, has also met opposition leaders and agreed to maintain contact and cooperate on legislative matters in parliament.
