Leaders of the Opposition in the National Assembly and in the Senate Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas respectively and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi affirmed on Thursday the September 27 march would be peaceful. The affirmation came during a meeting of the chief minister with the opposition leaders here. Also present in the meeting were KP Information Minister Shafi Jan, KP CM Adviser on Information Iftikharullah Jan, Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan Spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain and Imran Khan's legal counsel Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry.
A detailed discussion was held on the upcoming protest march and future political and democratic strategies. It was affirmed that the September 27 march would be entirely peaceful, constitutional and democratic, with the public taking to the streets to assert their constitutional and democratic rights. The participants resolved that there would be no compromise whatsoever on the constitutional rights of the provinces.
They insisted that all democratic forces must unite and struggle to uphold the supremacy of Constitution, protect democracy and respect the public mandate in Pakistan. They underlined that in the current climate, playing a clear and effective political role to defend the Constitution and democratic principles - rather than remaining silent or acting out of expediency - is imperative. Chief Minister Afridi briefed both opposition leaders in detail regarding the street movement in Punjab and the "fascism" displayed by the Punjab government.
The leaders commended, what they called, the vigorous yet peaceful street movement led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in Punjab. They strongly condemned the measures taken by the Punjab government against political activists and democratic voices; they emphasised that the use of state power to suppress political dissent is blatantly contrary to democratic values, constitutional freedoms and political tolerance. Meanwhile, Akhunzada Hussain has hailed the Supreme Court's decision to order the release of Imaan Mazari and her husband Hadi Ali Chattha from their 'unjust detention' and called it a welcome development.
However, he contended that it is deeply regrettable and concerning that a lawyer and human rights advocate had to wage a long struggle to secure her fundamental and legal rights.