ISLAMABAD: Leaders of Pakistan’s two top opposition parties on Wednesday pledged to use all democratic and constitutional means required to unseat the government while holding a meeting in the country’s southern port city of Karachi that witnessed massive urban flooding only a few days ago.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif said in a Twitter post that he was visiting Karachi to express solidarity with its residents who suffered a great deal due to heavy monsoon rains.
“Here to express my solidarity with the people of Karachi who braved the worst conditions created in wake of heavy downpours and urban flooding,” he wrote on the social media website. “All stakeholders need to sit together to work out a comprehensive and doable plan to uplift the megacity. Politics can wait for another day!”
Sharif visited the top Pakistan People’s Party leaders, Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto, along with other senior party members to discuss the country’s overall political situation.
The meeting was followed by a joint news conference that was addressed by the leaders of the two parties who vowed to strengthen democratic institutions by ensuring constitutional supremacy in Pakistan.
Referring to the Charter of Democracy signed between former prime ministers, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, on May 14, 2006, in London, PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal said that the document required the two parties to rise above their political interests and defend democracy in the country.
The opposition leaders also claimed that the fundamental rights of Pakistani citizens were being violated under the incumbent administration and vowed to resist that while staying within the constitutional framework of the country.
The joint press conference also announced that the PPP would host the Rehbar Committee meeting on Thursday to decide the date for the All Parties Conference (APC).
Apart from criticizing the performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, leaders of the two parties also targeted the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that is investigating several high-profile opposition politicians.
The two political factions, who already claim that the anti-graft references against their leaders are politically motivated, decided to resist arrests of their party members by NAB.
Leaders of Pakistan’s top opposition parties to deliberate on anti-government strategy
https://arab.news/g2ytj
Leaders of Pakistan’s top opposition parties to deliberate on anti-government strategy
- PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif meets PPP’s Asif Ali Zardari and Bilawal Bhutto in Karachi
- The two parties claim the fundamental rights of Pakistani citizens have been usurped
Islamabad rebuts claims of Pakistan being used as base for possible US strike on Iran
- Pakistan information ministry attributes the ‘reckless’ claims to ‘Afghanistan and Indian X accounts’
- ’Blame-pushing narrative tries to drag Pakistan into a US-Iran conflict without any evidence,’ it adds
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday refuted reports claiming that its territory could be used as a base for a possible US military strike on Iran, calling the claims a “reckless” attempt to drag Pakistani into a US-Iran conflict.
The Pakistan information ministry’s fact check account on X attributed the claims to “propaganda machineries Afghanistan and Indian X accounts,” identifying handles that claimed the US has moved aerial refueling (KC-135R) and surveillance aircraft to Pakistan.
The ministry said X accounts, @KHoorasanM_U1, @RealBababanaras and @AFGDefense, claimed these US aircraft are conducting unusual flights toward or into Iranian airspace and that Pakistan is being used as a base to support US stealth fighters (F-35/F-22) in a possible military strike on Iran.
Citing Reuters and Washington Post, the information ministry noted that while US refueling aircraft movements have been reported, but they were mostly linked to Europe, and there is no credible proof of any US aircraft based in Pakistan or any operational flights to Iran for a possible strike.
“This is a reckless, blame-pushing narrative that tries to drag Pakistan into a US-Iran conflict without any verifiable evidence,” the information ministry said on its fact check account on X, urging people not to share sensational military stories from “propaganda pages.”
“For national security and defense matters, rely only on ISPR (Inter-Services Public Relations), MoIB (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting), MoFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and reputable defense outlets.”
The development comes amid weeks of public unrest in Iran over worsening economic conditions and a government crackdown on protesters.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 572 people have been killed, including 503 protesters and 69 members of security forces. It said more than 10,600 people have been detained over the two weeks of protests.
The group relies on supporters in Iran cross-checking information, AP reported.
With the Internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.
US President Donald Trump last week threatened to intervene militarily if Tehran continued to kill protesters. He said late Sunday his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran but cautioned that he may have to act before then as reports of deaths mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.
“Iran called, they want to negotiate,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One.
Iran did not acknowledge Trump’s comments immediately. It has previously warned the US military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.
Separately, China said it opposes foreign “interference” in other countries.
“We always oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular news conference on Monday, when asked about Trump’s comments. “We call on all parties to do more things conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East.”
