PPP unveils seven-point opposition agenda

The former ruling PPP on Wednesday unveiled the seven-point agenda, which Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said his party would be following as the “major opposition” party in parliament.

Addressing a briefing, Rabbani lambasted the US, Britain and the EU as prominent players of ‘international establishment’ which kept mum over Taliban singling out three liberal progressive political parties for attacks and paving the way for four to five right-wing parties to win elections.

“The PPP, which emerged as the number two party in elections, would play the role of a major opposition in and outside parliament,” he said.

“We would be in the opposition in Centre and form government in Sindh,” he added. The PPP leader said the PPP would form a well-performing “exemplary” government in Sindh province would ensure in Centre that “it is a government in waiting”.

Identifying seven “vital” sectors of his party’s initial opposition agenda, Rabbani said his side would monitor the new government’s policies and actions against 14 basic areas.

The seven areas against which the PPP would be evaluating the PML-N government’s performance include economy, provincial autonomy in the light of 18th Amendment, creation of national anti-terrorism strategy, independent foreign policy, energy crisis, Balochistan issue and law and order.

Elaborating, Rabbani said under the economic agenda, the first thing the PPP would focus would be a fresh IMF bailout package and new conditions thereof. Price control, job creation and restoration of trade unions in banks would also be monitored in terms of governance. “We would ensure no anti-labour laws are enacted as the new government is that of industrialists who have an anti-labour track record,” he said.

“The 18th amendment-backed provincial autonomy is something that would be jealously guarded by my side on opposition benches. No one can be allowed to roll it back.”

Slamming the caretaker government’s efforts to put education and health back in the control of the federal government, Rabbani said the issue should be resolved in light of CCI’s decision made in ex-PM Gilani’s reign.

He said the PPP would also keep a vigilant eye on government’s approach towards implementation of Articles 172, 157 and 158 that respectively provide for transfer of national resources, power and gas to the provinces by the Centre.

“We demand that the rules and business be restored in line with 18th Amendment,” he demanded.

The manifesto of PML-N, he said, had unfortunately no clear policy stand on to how the party would curtail domestic and international terrorism. “If they failed to make it clear, we as an opposition would form an alternative policy of our own,” he said.

The senator said his side would require the new government to implement parliament’s resolution of October 22, 2008 on devising an independent foreign policy.

Also, he wanted the new government to clarify its policy on American drone attacks inside Pakistan, US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014, new terms and condition for Pakistan’s engagement with US and NATO and dialogue with the Taliban.

“The government would also need to make it clear whether it would stick to old strategic depth mantra in Afghanistan or would reject it,” he said.

Under the head of energy, he said the PPP would monitor how the government proceeded with the previous government’s landmark achievements of GwadarPort’s hand over to China and IP gas pipeline in terms of implementation. “We would see if they release the required funds,” the PPP stalwart said.

Balochistan was a sensitive issue needing political dialogue. “The election of parties of Mengal and Dr Malik will augur well for resolution of Balochistan conflict.”

Rabbani said his side would also keep an eye on how the PML-N government tackled the issue of international terrorist threat and law and order.