Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Saturday proposed the formation of a national government to steer the country out of ongoing difficulties and build a broader national consensus.

Speaking to a private TV channel, he said the opposition had held talks with the ruling authorities, adding that and Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai had also written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after the premier expressed a willingness for unconditional dialogue.

Goldsmith family’s assault on Pakistan’s national interests

However, he noted that no meeting had taken place so far.

Abbas said the establishment of a national government was the best way to save Pakistan’s sinking ship. “Mahmood Khan Achakzai had told them that all parties should sit together and agree on a few points; we will then consult Imran Khan and together bring the country out of crisis.”

He said the opposition had proposed that the Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties convene to reach a consensus on constitutional supremacy.

This, he said, should include agreement on the people being the ultimate source of power, the holding of free and fair elections, transfer of power to the election winner, protection of fundamental rights, supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law.

Basant turns deadly once again

Read: TTAP criticises govt policies, demands elections and medical care for Imran Khan

Responding to a question regarding the government’s reaction, Abbas said both sides wanted to find a middle ground, adding that “this burden cannot be borne any longer”.

He said a party meeting had been called for Monday to decide the future course of action. “There is a straightforward way to resolve this issue — a step through which the entire country can come out of the crisis without any harm,” he said, adding that the path suggested by Achakzai should be followed so that Imran could also be released and the country could move forward.

Achakzai, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, has for some time been advocating the formation of a national government, calling it the only way forward.

Earlier this week, while addressing a public meeting in Pishin, he suggested that in view of the regional situation arising from the Iran-United States-Israel conflict, all political parties in Pakistan should sit together to form a national government for one or two years to address the worsening situation.

Also Read: Opposition bloc agrees to conditional talks with govt

He also proposed that, following the formation of such a setup, an independent and sovereign election commission be established to conduct free and fair elections under international guarantees, stressing that true democracy, constitutional supremacy and parliamentary sovereignty were essential to resolving the country’s crises.

Relations between the opposition and the government have remained strained despite several attempts at negotiations in recent months.

Last month, the government extended a fresh offer for talks, with PM’s aide Senator Rana Sanaullah stating that it was ready for dialogue to strengthen democracy and avoid confrontation and deadlock.

The opposition alliance responded positively but with conditions; however, no progress has been made since then.