ISLAMABAD:
Major political parties, including a broad opposition alliance, welcomed Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts on Wednesday to broker a landmark US-Iran deal as the PTI decided to call off its protest rally in Rawalpindi, coinciding with the high-stakes talks.
In a display of political maturity amid deep domestic polarization, the major opposition parties welcomed the government’s mediation efforts.
The PTI, the main opposition party, not only welcomed the two-week ceasefire but also decided to postpone the scheduled meeting on April 9 in Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, citing the sensitive international situation and the need to prioritize diplomatic success.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram announced the decision on X after a meeting of the party’s political committee attended by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and senior officials.
The committee reviewed the country’s political situation and recent regional developments, welcomed the ceasefire as “an important success” and appreciated the efforts of all parties involved.
“PTI wants not just a temporary halt in the Middle East but a permanent ceasefire and sustainable peace,” the statement said. “Our position is that stability in the region is the guarantor of the global economy and the survival of humanity.”
It added that Pakistan is hosting a very important meeting on April 10 in Islamabad on a permanent ceasefire, noting that the meeting is crucial for global and regional peace.
In view of the international context and diplomatic efforts to save the region from war, the committee decided to postpone the demonstration at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. The new date will be announced later.
PTI founder Imran Khan conveyed the same message through Barrister Salman Safdar while PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reiterated it during his speech in the National Assembly.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also welcomed the development.
In a post on X, he wrote that Pakistan is proud to have led with wisdom, determination and a steadfast commitment to peace, and remains deeply grateful to the leadership of Iran and the United States for stepping back from the brink and choosing dialogue over destruction. “I commend the tireless efforts of the leadership in Tehran, Washington and Islamabad to create space for de-escalation and diplomacy to prevail.”
He added that the ceasefire offers a critical opening for the region to breathe, recover and turn away from the shadow of a wider war, expressing hope that it would evolve into a lasting peace that promotes stability and shared prosperity.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman called it a welcome development. In a post on X, he described the easing of tensions as positive and called on Pakistan, along with other brotherly Islamic countries, to use the period to push for lasting peace in the region.
He added that it is essential for the Islamic world to agree that Israel’s existence has become a threat to global peace, saying that Arab and Gulf countries can only realize their aspirations for development through the liberation of Palestine.
The MQM, a coalition partner, offered a stronger response. In a statement on X, MQM convener Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui that Pakistan is the focal point of global peace and that the Islamabad talks are a victory for humanity.
