NDC urges govt to ease political tension, stabilise economy

A national conference convened by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) has urged the government's top leadership to step forward and engage directly in a political dialogue with the opposition to ease political tensions and stabilise the country’s democratic and economic landscape. 

National Dialogue Committee had demanded of the government to appoint Opposition leaders in National Assembly and Senate on urgent basis and release all political prisoners in the country. 

The call came during a representative national gathering convened by the NDC in Islamabad on Wednesday, attended by leaders of major political parties, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers and other stakeholders associated with Pakistan’s political and democratic system. The National Dialogue Committee was recently formed by former PTI leaders, including Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi.

The three former PTI leaders have time and again pushed reconciliation initiative aimed at cooling political temperatures in the country, particularly between the establishment and the PTI.

In a joint declaration issued after today's meeting, the committee expressed serious concern over political instability, economic hardships faced by the public, restrictions on political activity and the media, and the persistent threat of terrorism. Participants stressed the need for national unity, political reconciliation and confidence-building measures, while appreciating the NDC’s role as a bridge between the government and the opposition.

The committee called for the formation of separate negotiation committees by the government and the opposition to formally initiate talks.

It proposed that President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif represent the government side, while the NDC would, in consultation with senior opposition leaders currently in jail, announce the names of the opposition’s negotiation committee.

The declaration also emphasised that restrictions on political activities should be lifted, the immediate appointment of leaders of the opposition in both the National Assembly and Senate, and political freedoms ensured within the constitutional framework.

It also demanded the release of women political workers, including Bushra Bibi and Yasmin Rashid, withdrawal of cases against political activists, an end to media censorship and removal of curbs on television anchors.