'New charter of democracy': Asad Umar wants engagement between politicians, establishment
1. Solution to problems does not lie with just one political party, it requires consensus, says former PTI leader
Reacting to the ongoing political unrest, former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar has called for politicians to unite and engage in dialogue with the establishment to resolve the country's issues.
In an interview with a British news outlet, Umar, a former close associate of PTI founder Imran Khan, argued that a "new charter of democracy" is needed to address the current political crisis.
His comments come amid the stalled negotiations between the former ruling party and the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government. Despite holding three rounds of dialogue and PTI presenting a written charter of demands, progress has stalled. PTI refused to attend the fourth round of talks, citing the government's failure to form a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 riots and November 2024 protests in Islamabad.
With PTI warning of agitation and returning to the streets, as seen in their power show in Swabi on February 8, Imran Khan, who has been in prison for over a year, has written multiple letters to Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir. These letters addressed a range of issues, including alleged rigging in the 2024 general elections, terrorism charges, raids, the use of force against PTI workers, and economic matters.
However, the army chief denied receiving any such letters, stating that even if he had, he would not read them but would forward them to Prime Minister Shehbaz.
The government has criticized PTI over these letters, labeling them as an attempt to create a rift between the military and the people. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui challenged PTI to leave the assemblies and start a protest movement if the 2024 elections were indeed rigged.
With political tensions likely to rise if PTI resumes street protests, Umar, who resigned from PTI's basic membership in November 2023 following the May 9 riots, emphasized the need for political understanding and a cooperative approach to ensure democracy and progress in Pakistan.
Umar stressed that the solution to the country's problems cannot rest with one political party alone but requires consensus across the political spectrum. He also lamented the unprecedented disrespect faced by parliament today and highlighted that a strong parliament is essential for strengthening democracy.
