Opposition comes down heavy on 'detractors of democracy'

Bilawal stresses on forging a new alliance on democracy

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan's political atmosphere has intensified with the opposition leaders descending upon the federal capital to attend the much-hyped All Parties Conference called by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to devise a plan to oust Imran khan's government.

The moot is being attended by political bigwigs, and has even been addressed by deposed premier Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari via video link from London and Karachi respectively.

8:15pm: Long march to Islamabad if elections not held in January: Shehla Raza

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Sindh Minister for Women Development Syeda Shehla Raza has said that the opposition would begin its anti-government movement from October.

She, in a tweet, said that free and fair elections in January would be demanded and if the demand is not met, there will be a long march towards Islamabad.

اکتوبر سے تحریک کا آغاز ہوگا،مطالبہ کیا جائے گا کہ جنوری میں آزادنہ انتخابات کروائے جائیں بصورت دیگر اسلام آباد کی جانب لانگ مارچ ہوگا،تحریک عدم اعتماد اور اسمبلیں سے استعفؤں کے آپشن اس کے علاوہ ہیں یہ تو ثابت ہو چکا ہے کہ حکومت اپنی اکثریت کھو چکی ہے اور اب یہ اقلیتی حکومت ہے

— Syeda Shehla Raza (@SyedaShehlaRaza) September 20, 2020

7:45pm: APC nothing more than a gathering of criminals and convicts: Shehzad Akbar

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shehzad Akbar said that the All Parties Conference (APC) of the opposition parties was nothing more than a gathering of criminals and convicts being held to make deliberations on how to paralyse the law enforcing agencies or diffuse the corruption cases against them.

Akbar said he had already predicted the agenda and motives of APC in his previous press conference that the meeting of the opposition parties would aim to change and redefine the narratives against them.

He said if covering the live video link speech was manifestation of media freedom in the country, then the address of a convict and proclaimed offender was also clear violation of laid down rules and code of conduct. He advised former ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif to trust the national institutions and come back to face the cases against him.

7:30pm: PPP draws Fazl’s ire for not airing his APC speech

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was infuriated during the opposition’s much-hyped all-party conference (APC) after his speech was not aired live on TV channels and social media platforms.

Venting out his displeasure, the JUI-F chief said, “The government restricts my voice from going in public but today APC also did the same”.

In a bid to pacify his ally, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the decision was taken on the request of one of the JUI-F lawmakers.

Another senior PPP leader Sherry Rehman said the speech was not aired because the session was in-camera and a press conference was also planned following the conference.

However, Maulana Fazl while rejecting their clarifications said he wanted to register protest with the PPP and organisers of the APC over the “unjust move”. He said other leaders' address would not have been aired if the session was in-camera.

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7:00pm: Accountability to continue no matter how many APCs opposition holds: Shahbaz Gill

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Shahbaz Gill termed all parties conference (APC) of the opposition a “Pakistan Lootmar Association”, saying that it was being held in Islamabad today for almost 5th time in a short span of two years.

Addressing a press conference at Press Information Department in Islamabad, he said there was a loud and clear message for the opposition parties that the accountability process would continue at all costs, no matter how many APCs they hold.

He said that incumbent government would implement two agendas one of human development and the other of accountability.

6:45pm: Bilawal and Maryam at APC

.@MaryamNSharif and @BBhuttoZardari at APC. pic.twitter.com/1PpmlXtrcZ

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) September 20, 2020

6:40pm: People of Pakistan are against this 'selected' govt: Marriyum Aurangzeb

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that today's All Parties Conference (APC) reflects the fact that the people of Pakistan are united against this corrupt and "selected" government.

آج کی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس اس بات کی عکاسی کرتی ہے کہ پاکستان کی عوام اس کرپٹ اور سلیکٹیڈ حکومت کے خلاف متحد ہے۔
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی میزبانی میں ہونے والی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس میں شرکت کیلئے آئے مسلم لیگ ن کی رہنما لیگ ن مریم اورنگزیب کا اظہار خیال @Marriyum_A#UnitedForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/BbHjMeIsRa

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

6:30pm: Trying to evolve consensus on protest strategy: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that opposition parties were trying to devise a unified course of action against the government.

“We are trying to develop a consensus on the measures [to be taken against the government] which would prove effective and would help get rid of this oppressive regime,” he said.

اس آل پارٹیز کانفرنس سے ایک ایسا متفقہ لائحہ عمل بنے گا، جس سے پاکستان کی عوام کو اس نااہل حکومت سے نجات ملے گی۔پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی میزبانی میں ہونے والی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس میں شرکت کیلئے آئے مسلم لیگ ن کے رہنما شاہد خاقان عباسی کا اظہارخیال @SKhaqanAbbasi#UnitedForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/rxT70MOUIh

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

5:45pm: Saad Rafique optimistic on forging united front against PTI govt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former railways minister Khawaja Saad Rafique hoped that today's APC would prove decisive.

He was also optimistic about forming a large united front against the government which would work on a certain agenda.

یہ آل پارٹیز کانفرنس نتیجہ خیز ہوگی۔
پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی میزبانی میں ہونے والی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس میں شرکت کیلئے آئے مسلم لیگ ن کے رہنما خواجہ سعد رفیق کا اظہار خیال@KhSaad_Rafique#UnitedForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/03AeydVssn

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

5:30pm: Opposition to continue struggle until 'artificial' govt is dislodged: Ahsan Iqbal

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that the opposition parties would continue to struggle against this "artificial" government until it is dislodged.

Speaking during the All Parties Conference (APC), he expressed hope that the decisions taken today would prove decisive.

Criticising the government, he said that it has destroyed the economy, sabotaged the foreign policy and also inflicted significant damage to the Kashmir cause.

موجودہ حکومت نے دو سالوں میں پاکستان کی معیشیت کو تباہ کردیا ہے۔

پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی میزبانی میں ہونے والی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس میں شرکت کیلئے آئے مسلم لیگ ن کے رہنما احسن اقبال کا اظہار خیال @betterpakistan#UnitedForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/lsE7iwUsFH

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

3:00pm: Recess for lunch

2:30pm: PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the APC

"The democracy we have in this country today is a sham," said Shehbaz Sharif while addressing the conference. Democracy has been derailed in this country through many 'accidents', he added.

"Nawaz Sharif delineated an accurate account of [Pakistan's] political history," Shehbaz observed.

He said that after 2018 elections, we saw a 'selected' government come to power. "The 'selected' prime minister had promised to look into complaints of election rigging," added the PML-N president. Shehbaz complained of the committee made to investigate claims of rigging 'not moving an inch forward'.

He said that the current government had failed completely, and to not hold it accountable would be a crime, and we [the opposition] would be the criminals.

2:15pm: PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses the conference

We will have to ask for a level-playing field, he said. "Not just in the elections, but in every other place that the Opposition was not provided in such as the judiciary, media and now even the parliament," he added.

"All leaders sitting here, who were with us in the Movement for Restoration of Democracy, or in the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, and signed the Charter of Democracy with us, we request you to now struggle with us to resotre democracy again," the PPP chairman said.

Addressing the party leaders at the conference, he said we might have to form another alliance today. An alliance whose foundation and constitution are about a new kind of democracy, he added.

1:22pm: PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar tweets updates from the APC

Multi Party Conference has started formally in Islamabad . Ex President Asif Zardari addressing conference via video link from Karachi. Welcoming Nawaz Sharif to it former President is talking about 18th Amendment andNFC

— Farhatullah Babar (@FarhatullahB) September 20, 2020

1:22pm: Ousted premier Nawaz Sharif addresses the APC

 

1:10pm: Former president Asif Zardari addresses the APC

Addressing the All Parties Conference hosted by his party, former president Asif Zardari delivered the opening address. He welcomed former premier Nawaz Sharif for participating in the conference, and also his daughter Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

Referring to legal cases against Maryam Nawaz, the former president said he understands the difficulties she was going through. "My own sister has gone to jail, as well as my wife," he said.

On the APC, Zardari said the conference should have taken place a long time ago. He criticised the government over its behaviour towards the Opposition.

He called on all the parties in the conference to devise a strong strategy that sustains democracy.

سیلیکٹڈ وزیراعظم کی سوچ ایک میجر کی سوچ ہے۔
اٹھارویں ترمیم 1973 کے آئین کے ارد گرد ایک دیوار کی مانند ہے تاکہ کوئی بھی میلی آنکھ اس کی طرف دیکھ نہ سکے۔

صدر آصف علی زرداری @AAliZardari#UnitedForDemocracy
1/2 pic.twitter.com/Ij3NwWI2rf

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

ہم یہاں پاکستان بچانے کیلئے جمع ہوئے ہیں، ہم موجودہ سلیکٹیڈ حکومت کو گھر بھیج کر جمہوریت بحال کرکے رہیں گے۔

صدرآصف علی زرداری کا آل پارٹیز کانفرنس کے آغاز میں خطاب@AAliZardari#UnitedForDemocracy
2/2 pic.twitter.com/qLg1eHntCl

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

1:00pm: PML-N leaders Shehbaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz arrive at the venue

صدر مسلم لیگ ن شہباز شریف اور نائب صدر مسلم لیگ ن مریم نواز شریف، پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی میزبانی میں ہونے والی آل پارٹیز کانفرنس میں شرکت کیلئے پہنچ گئے۔@CMShehbaz@MaryamNSharif#UnitedForDemocracy pic.twitter.com/zNW1GwZ9nQ

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) September 20, 2020

12:40pm: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman reaches Marriot to attend the conference.

12:30pm: Nawaz arrives at Hussain Nawaz's office in Stanhope House, London

12:00pm: "Today Pakistan’s opposition parties will unite to hold this regime to account," says Bilawal in a tweet. "Democracy is the best revenge."

Today Pakistan’s opposition parties will unite to hold this regime to account. 2 years of this selected experiment has had disastrous consequences for Pakistan, our citizens, democracy, economy & foreign policy. Democracy is the best revenge. #UnitedForDemocracy #APC2020

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) September 20, 2020