Argue that economy does not flourish when constitutional supremacy is contested, political uncertainty reigns
A combination photo of PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid, Omar Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed and Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
Five jailed senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have urged the opposition leadership to engage Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in talks on a “Pakistan Charter”, it emerged on Thursday.
On June 14, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had invited the opposition to sign a charter on finance while defending the federal budget in the National Assembly (NA).
In a letter to Opposition Leaders Mahmood Achakzai, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan – dated June 17 – PTI leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry and Mian Mahmoodur targeting a Lacar Rasheed frame – currently in proposed Lacar Rasheed frame. to ensure constitutional supremacy, political stability, respect for electoral mandate and institutional balance in addition to the government’s proposed Charter of Economy.
The letter stated that Pakistan was at “critical crossroads” and pointed to the government’s offer of an economic charter to address the country’s challenges.
“While economic reform and political continuity are undoubtedly essential, it is important to ask a more fundamental question, can economic stability be achieved in the absence of political stability and constitutional security?” the letter asked, adding that “history, experience and common sense suggest otherwise.”
It noted that the economy did not flourish when constitutional supremacy was challenged, political uncertainty prevailed and public confidence in institutions weakened.
The senior PTI leaders emphasized that investment, growth and prosperity were ultimately products of trust in the rule of law, respect for democratic mandates and predictable governance.
The signatories maintained that Pakistan’s challenges were fundamentally constitutional and political in nature, rather than purely economic. They argued that efforts to solve economic problems without addressing these “fundamental” concerns would fall short of achieving the desired outcome.
The leaders therefore called on the opposition to encourage the Prime Minister to expand the national dialogue beyond the economic charter and work towards a comprehensive charter for Pakistan.
According to the letter, the proposed charter was to seek consensus among political parties, state institutions and other stakeholders on key principles including: unconditional supremacy of the constitution, respect for the electoral mandate and the will of the people, an end to political manipulation in all its forms, strict adherence of all institutions to their constitutional roles and implementation of national policies across borders and protection of national accountability across borders, the national action plan and long-term economic framework, regardless of change of government.
Citing international examples, the quintet argued that political stability preceded economic prosperity and not the other way around.
“If the Prime Minister is truly committed to placing Pakistan on a path of national recovery, this is an opportunity to demonstrate statesmanship by initiating an inclusive national dialogue on a charter for Pakistan,” the letter stressed, adding: “Such an initiative would address the root causes of instability rather than just its symptoms.”
The letter concluded with a call for a serious, transparent and results-oriented discussion of the proposal between the government and the opposition.
“Pakistan deserves a consensus that transcends governments,” the PTI leaders wrote, adding that the country demanded “not another interim arrangement but a durable national pact”.
