Pakistan's major opposition parties have come together to devise an anti-government strategy at an All Parties Conference hosted by the PPP.
Currently, a discussion is underway to mull whether mass protests or a demand for resignations will be adopted as the course of action to oust the government.
Speaking about this, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said that Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman had proposed the option of resignations, but the APC was still mulling over it.
"The leaders are bringing forward more proposals and the PML-N's proposal will be a near reflection of what Nawaz had said [in his speech to the APC]," he said.
The PML-N stalwart said that for an in-house change, a legal option was present, adding however that "everyone's stance is that protests be held against the government"
Sanaullah said that all the opposition leaders were on a single page to send the government packing.
"Nawaz Sharif had talked about a plan of action, Zardari also spoke clearly, and so did Maulana," he said, adding that a team was meeting to devise an action plan.
Conference a 'turning point'
Addressing the conference through a video link, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif thanked former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari for his well wishes and expressed hope that "our efforts will surely come to fruition".
"I am really thankful to all the opposition leaders for providing me an opportunity to address the people of my country. Although I am living abroad, I'm well aware of the circumstances and hardships our country is going through.
"I perceive this conference as a turning point where we can make major decisions for the country with courage," Nawaz said, adding that it was an opportunity to make important decisions as those pinning their hopes to the opposition would otherwise be disappointed.
"I am speaking from my experience of serving this country; the soul of democracy lies in people being allowed to bring their opinions forward. According to the law, our democratic system relies on the opinions and say of the people."
Pakistan 'a laboratory' for experiments
"Democratic systems around the world follow the same principle. When public votes are not respected and the verdict is decided even before the elections, then we can guess the extent to which the people of this country are deceived and dodged," Nawaz said.
"Unfortunately, Pakistan has been a laboratory for such experiments. It is not even taken into account that the democratic structure of the country is destroyed due to such tactics and the public loses faith in the system," he added.
"During the 73-year-long history of Pakistan, everybody knows that no democratic leader could complete their tenure, whereas dictators ruled the country and completed their tenure," the PML-N supremo underlined.
“The people who followed the laws were put in jail. It is not a new thing in Pakistan that dictators are always set free and are not held accountable for whatever they do,” Nawaz said, referring to the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf.
The PML-N founder also said the "root cause" of Pakistan's problems was the presence of a "state above the state". Reiterating the opposition’s claims of the 2018 elections not being fair, he said the PTI regime "would not have come to power in the first place had these elections not been rigged”.
“Rigging elections is unconstitutional and a robbery of people's rights. It is a serious crime. I want to ask: Why was the RTS (Result Transmission System) shut down for hours during the election?
"The former chief election commissioner and secretary will have to answer for this.”
Commenting on the country's foreign policy, the former premier said that Pakistan's "good reputation in the international community is ruined because of the current policies and incapable regime”.
"It is because of this puppet government that India annexed Kashmir,” Nawaz said. “Why is the world not ready to listen to us today?"
'Everyone would be held accountable'
"Why are we alone?” he went on to ask, adding that Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made statements that disappointed Saudi Arabia. “We must strengthen the OIC,” Nawaz asserted, referring to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The PML-N leader also lambasted the PTI government over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying the multi-billion dollar project backed by China was being treated like the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
Maintaining that it was imperative to scrutinise the role of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the former premier said the watchdog's head retired Justice Javed Iqbal was caught misusing his position but no action was taken against him.
"Soon, a day will come when everyone would be held accountable.”
"Imran Khan himself is involved in increasing the price of sugar in the country,” the PLM-N supremo alleged. "Will the NAB arrest him,” Nawaz asked.
Concluding his speech, the former PM once again thanked the PPP and reminded the leaders that now was the time to get united.
"We have to decide that we are one and if the APC succeeds in doing so, then this conference is successful.”
Bilawal demands level-playing field
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari hailed the PML-N founder for giving a comprehensive speech and demanded a level-playing field in not only elections but in courts, media forums, and in the Parliament as well.
چیئرمین پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی بلاول بھٹو زرداری اسلام آباد میں ہونے والی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس میں شرکت کیلئے پہنچ گئے۔#UnitedForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/QipyskviXj
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020
“As Nawaz Sharif has summed it all up that the failure of a democratic system is the failure of the society," Bilawal said.
He added that everyone had seen that if the leaders were not elected through the public’s votes, the public welfare was always neglected. “Instead of facilitating the doctors and health professionals, the government targeted them and did not support them the way they were deserved,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chairperson also criticised the government over the state of media freedom in the country.
“When the political leaders are not permitted to present their viewpoint, if media is punished and censored of what they broadcast, then how do we expect that a common man can speak his mind?”
Zardari slams 'unprecedented censorship'
Earlier, in his welcome note, Zardari had thanked the attendees, noting that the APC should have taken place quite a while ago. Criticising the government for not allowing Nawaz's speech to be broadcast, he said they showed former president Pervez Musharraf's interview.
"We have never seen such stringent censorship across the country," Zardari stated. "This reflects on the weakness of the government. It is impossible to curtail the emerging voices of the media.
"Today, a child from Balochistan has access to media and can voice out his concern."
The ex-president also especially welcomed PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, saying he was "fully aware of the hardships you’ve been through and respect that".
"My solidarity is with Maryam Nawaz Sharif; she's like my daughters, she has suffered a lot in her struggle, and we stand by her.
'Will establish real democracy'
"The thinking pattern of the selected prime minister is that of a major," Zardari said. "Since the very beginning we’ve been speaking against the fake mandate and this manipulation. Bilawal is probably the first leader to raise concerns that the government is selected.
"We tried to save democracy in the country since past two years. The first necessity to run a democratic state is democracy. We have raised voice for Balochistan and have been speaking for Punjab, especially South Punjab," he added.
The PPP leader said he would inform the Foreign Office about developments during his tenure instead of the other way round and asking them for permission.
"When I was asked by authorities during my tenure as the president if I 'asked the Foreign Office', I used to reply that I have 'informed the Foreign Office'," he stated.
"My message to Pakistani people is that we have to be united together to save democracy.
"We have not gathered here to only send this government packing but to establish real democracy afterwards. We have to save Pakistan and in the words of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, “Hum jeetain gey," he concluded by saying.
PM Imran allows Nawaz's speech
Shortly after the APC commenced, sources said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had allowed TV channels across Pakistan to broadcast Nawaz's speech.
"Nawaz Sharif will expose himself to the people with his speech," sources quoted the premier as saying.
"Nawaz Sharif will lie so let him lie," PM Imran said, as per the sources. "The people should be allowed to decide for themselves."
The sources further revealed that the premier's advisers and aides told him there had been decisions wherein an "accused" was barred from making statements and that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) should be asked to implement such a court decision.
PM Imran, however, did not agree with the suggestion of his advisers and special assistants, sources added, and rejected their recommendation to pen a letter to the PEMRA.
'Disastrous consequences'
Earlier in the morning, PPP's Bilawal and delegations of the PML-N — including party president Shehbaz Sharif and VP Maryam Nawaz — and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman arrived at the venue, with other leaders joining over the past hour.
Shortly after reaching the APC venue, Bilawal criticised the ruling PTI, saying on Twitter "2 years of this selected experiment has had disastrous consequences".
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman spoke to the media ahead of the APC, saying today's was "a gathering of 12 parties and all opposition leaders are coming".
Tell govt 'ghabrana nahi hei!'
"The government is very confused and nervous; tell them there is nothing to worry about," Rehman said, using Prime Minister Imran Khan's much touted slogan of "Ghabrana nahi hei [You need not worry]!"
She said the APC would decide on how the opposition parties would proceed ahead, with talks between the participating leaders.
Read more: Sheikh Rashid says opposition's 'game is up', APC bound to fail
The PPP leader said the opposition parties would discuss the PTI regime's two-year performance and an action plan would be drawn up in the APC.
Former PM and PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the opposition would form a unanimous plan of action, which would be effective. "The people will get rid of this failed government," he said.
"The countdown to [ouster of] those with undemocratic and authoritarian minds will begin today," PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rasheed said, adding that the "today's journey will lead to true democracy in Pakistan, the supremacy of parliament and the rule of law".
Nawaz had earlier agreed to virtually attend the conference on the invitation of Bilawal, who had called him to inquire after his health.
"Just spoke to Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif," the PPP boss had tweeted, saying he had invited him to virtually attend the opposition's APC.
Bilawal had also extended a formal invitation to the JUI-F chief during a meeting at the latter's residence. Following the meeting, he had said a very "wholesome" and "detailed" discussion took place between both parties.
New election or in-house change?
The opposition parties had decided to convene an APC on September 20 after a Rahbar Committee meeting had decided that it was time to show the incumbent government the door.
"The situation in the country has reached a stage where we cannot afford even a moment's delay," JUI-F's Durrani had said.
"We want free and fair elections in the country, with no interference whatsoever," he had further said, terming the 2018 general elections "a disgrace to the whole country".
Durrani had said the opposition parties were on the same page that giving the incumbent government one more day in power would be unjust. "This government has destroyed the country in its two years" of rule, he had added.
"The APC will decide whether there will be a new election or an in-house change," he had said.
