The salient features of 26 point charter of demands by opposition APC

 APC demands resignation of PM Imran Khan, free and fair elections and truth commission to correct history

1-The meeting declared that the "incumbent selected government has been granted artificial stability by the establishment that has imposed it on the people through rigged elections".

2-The forum demands transparent elections in the country and calls for electoral reforms. The declaration also demanded that election reforms without any role for armed forces or agencies, be enacted.

3-"The selected government has ruined the common man's life with record-high inflation, unemployment, and taxes [...] we demand that the prices of flour, sugar, ghee, electricity and gas be immediately brought down."

4-Due to the "selected" government's failed policies, the crumbling economy is posing a serious danger to the country's atomic power and sovereignty.

5-"The 1973 Constitution, the 18th Amendment and the current National Finance Commission (NFC) award are a reflection of the nation's united viewpoint and we will fight to guard these from any attack and will protect our provincial autonomy. No compromise will be made on this."

6-Tthe opposition rejects the "nefarious intentions" of introducing a presidential system in the country.

7-"The selected government is responsible for the fall of Kashmir." The India's move to annex Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir was made "with the incumbent government's support".

8-The APC has expressed grave concerns over the "complete failure" of the government's policy regarding Afghanistan.

9-The meeting condemns "unprecedented" gags on the media and censorship. It demands that Editor-in-Chief Jang and Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman be released along with other media persons.

10-It also condemns the "false cases based on political revenge" against political leaders, and activists. It also demanded that all political prisoners be freed, particularly naming Pakistan People's Party's Khurshid Shah and PML-N's Hamza Shahbaz.

11- According to the declaration, due to the "non-implementation" of the National Action Plan there has been "a surge in terrorism".

12-The forum has also expressed grave concerns over the dismal law and order situation, saying that the government had "failed miserably" to ensure the basic rights of citizens.

13-The "inexperienced government" has put the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into danger". The opposition demands that CPEC projects be expedited and the motorway and railways on the western routes be developed on an emergency basis.

14- "The selected government has paralysed the parliament and the voice of the opposition was being suppressed [...] the opposition will not cooperate with the rubber-stamp Parliament anymore."

15-The opposition has also called for elections in Gilgit-Baltistan to be held on time and "without intervention. After the elections, through national consensus, steps should be taken to include GB within Pakistan's political parameters".

16-The tribal areas have been made no-go areas, and that the forum demands an end to this. It also said that Peshawar High Court's decision about handing over illegal detention centers to the police, while asking that tribal territories no longer remain "no-go areas".

17-A committee has been constituted to draft a Charter of Democracy which would guide the country to becoming the Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam had envisioned.

18-A truth commission will also be formed which will "bring forth Pakistan's true history since 1947".

19-The joint declaration of the APC said that “in an organized manner, guide and lead a protest movement to rid the country of anti-people and anti-poor government."

20-Expressing reservations on the "rising interference of establishment in political matters" and declared it a threat for the country and national institutes. The declaration demanded that the establishment immediately cease stop all manners of interference in politics.

21-Incidences of "pressurising impartial and just Judges through references" was roundly condemned while it was said that the current manner of appointing superior judiciary was "an obstacle to a free judicial system".

22-The joint opposition asked for a new accountability law in the light of the recent decisions by Supreme Court of Pakistan, recommendations by Islamic Ideology Council and reports of Human Rights Watch. The new law would ask for accountability of "all institutes and individuals whether they belong to judiciary, defence, bureaucracy, or parliament under one law and one institution."

23-The joint declaration also said that Special Advisor to Prime Minister, General (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa resign from his post until a recent report about his assets is investigated.

24-Punjab's local bodies’ delimitation was condemned and the idea of non-parity elections was rejected. Rise in university fees and cuts in Higher Education Commission budget were rejected. 25-It was demanded that Balochistan package be implemented while asking that civil authority be restored in the province.

26- The opposition demanded that the practice of "missing persons" be ended and already missing individuals be presented before the law. 

                                                           Khalid Bhatti