OPP Confab of Slams ‘Hybrid fascism’



On Friday, the opposition parties requested the immediate release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and the rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch, while demanding the dissolution of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), restoration of constitutional supremity and the end of "military interference" in democratic and judicial matters. The demands were filed in a joint statement at the end of the APC organized by Tehreek Tahaffuz-E-Aain Pakistan (TTAP), held from July 31 to August 1 in Islamabad. The place, initially organized in another place, was abruptly canceled by the Islamabad administration, a movement that participants condemned as a blow to the constitutional freedoms of the people. The conference was organized at the residence of the Vice President of TTAP, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Another key demand in the statement was the demand for Parliament to confer with respect to a recent meeting between the head of the Army personnel (COA), the field marshal also Munir and the president of the United States, Donald Trump. The opposition noted that the critical international developments, including the American commercial agreement of Pakistan, were now being revealed by foreign leaders, undermining Pakistan’s diplomatic credibility. The participants expressed a serious concern for the worsening of the country, constitutional, political and economic crisis. They observed the generalized public alienation with farmers in trouble, the middle class experienced a 58% decrease in purchasing power and youth unemployment that exceeds 30%. The conference condemned what he called ongoing fascism and political victimization. Rejected the prayers transmitted by what he described as "Kangaroo courts" against opposition leaders and PTI members and described on July 31 a dark day in the country’s democratic history. The APC said fascism, political victimization and prayers showed "The hybrid regime agenda [is] Eliminate all opposition."

Asking for a new letter of democracy, the parties said that the Constitution, the fundamental rights and the parliamentary system had been severely undermined. They requested a national consensus on key principles that include constitutional supremacy, the rule of law, judicial independence, electoral transparency, the resolution of regional complaints, press freedom, the protection of women’s rights and minorities. The Alliance rejected all the constitutional amendments that diluted the parliamentary authority and demanded the immediate dissolution of SFC, qualifying its unconstitutional formation and a violation of the amendment 18. It also demanded the revocation of a land lease contract that grants 4.8 million acres to the Green initiative company.

"This alliance and the parties attending the conference declare the establishment of SFC against the spirit of the 18th amendment and the constitution and the demand that SifC dissolves," The declaration read. "The July 8, 2024 agreement between the Presidency and the Pakistan Green Initiative is unconstitutional and must be annulled," The declaration read, demanding "Complete provincial status for Gilgit-Baltistan."

Participants expressed alarm for corruption and unbridled interference in civil and judicial institutions, asking for legal reforms and a truly independent judiciary. They supported six judges of the Superior Court of Islamabad who had raised concerns about judicial interference and demanded the repeal of the 26th constitutional amendment related to judicial appointments. The statement rejected the behavior of the general elections of 2024, calling them a misfortune for democracy. He requested a new impartial electoral commission established through the National Consensus and the immediate general elections under a neutral caregiver configuration, which should be free from the alleged interference of intelligence agencies. With respect to Baluchistan, the parties rated their crisis as a national wound and demanded the return of the control of local resources to indigenous peoples, the end of extrajudicial murders and forced disappearances, the discharge of illegal militias and urgent support for the University of Baluchistan. They demanded the release of Dr. Mahrang Baloch and the withdrawal of false FIR against BNP leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and his family. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Ex-Fata, the Conference supported the Pashtun Tahafuz movement, condemned the extrajudicial murders of the CTD, demanded a fair representation in the National Finance Commission, withdrawal of appeals against judicial governments on innstitutional regulations and the production of missing persons such as, Ali Wazir. The statement proposed a Truth and Reconciliation in the style of South Africa, which requested voluntary admissions of constitutional subversion since 1947. He criticized the political parties that had abandoned their past commitment to democratic letters. Any change in the Prize of the National Commission of Finance or Violations of the 1991 Water Agreement was described as attacks against the Federal Unit. The Alliance condemned the use of political reprisals and requested mutual respect among political actors. He rejected all forms of media censorship and supported journalists who face legal or silencers. The problems of women’s rights were highlighted, such as honor murders, forced marriages and denial of inheritance, together with calls to protections of minority personal laws and the prevention of forced conversions. While supporting peaceful relations with all nations, except Israel, he urged the Parliament to refer to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the International Criminal Court on alleged war crimes in Gaza.

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