Islamabad, January 7,2026: A national conference convened by the National Dialogue Committee (NDC) on Wednesday called on the country’s top leadership to step forward and engage in a structured political dialogue with the opposition to reduce political tensions and stabilise Pakistan’s democratic and economic landscape.
The representative gathering, held in Islamabad, was attended by leaders of major political parties, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers and other stakeholders linked to Pakistan’s political and democratic system.
The National Dialogue Committee, recently formed by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Fawad Chaudhry, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail and Mahmood Moulvi, has been advocating reconciliation to cool political temperatures in the country. Sources said the group has particularly sought to bridge gaps between the establishment and PTI.
Unlike earlier initiatives centred on PTI founder Imran Khan’s incarceration in Adiala Jail, the committee’s immediate focus has shifted to Kot Lakhpat Jail, where several senior PTI leaders — including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, Umar Cheema and Dr Yasmin Rashid — remain imprisoned.
In a joint declaration issued after the conference, participants expressed grave concern over political instability, economic hardships faced by the public, restrictions on political activity and the media, and the continuing threat of terrorism. Stressing the need for national unity, political reconciliation and confidence-building measures, the participants appreciated the NDC’s role as a bridge between the government and the opposition.
The declaration proposed the formation of separate negotiation committees by the government and the opposition to formally initiate talks. It suggested that President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif represent the government side, while the NDC, in consultation with senior opposition leaders currently in jail, would announce the opposition’s negotiation committee.
The conference also called for lifting restrictions on political activities, immediate appointment of leaders of the opposition in both the National Assembly and the Senate, and ensuring political freedoms within the constitutional framework. It demanded the release of women political workers, including Bushra Bibi and Dr Yasmin Rashid, withdrawal of cases against political activists, an end to media censorship and removal of curbs on television anchors.
Participants urged both the government and the opposition to refrain from using the armed forces for political purposes or engaging in negative propaganda against state institutions. They paid tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces, police, Rangers and other security personnel in the fight against terrorism, offering prayers for the martyrs and patience for their families. The declaration reaffirmed national unity in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty, defence and security, and the dignity of state institutions.
Addressing the conference, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said responsibility for Pakistan’s deteriorating conditions was shared by all, adding that no individual or institution was free from blame. He linked national challenges to economic decline, media restrictions and the weakening of the rule of law, warning that a country mired in chaos could not function. He stressed that politicians, the military, judges and business leaders must sit together to resolve issues, noting that the elite had effectively captured the state.
PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat said Pakistan had failed to properly understand the concept of national security, citing the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah as an example of how compromise could yield long-term benefits. He maintained that dialogue always produced sustainable outcomes and argued that talks should focus on systemic issues rather than being limited to the release of any single individual.
PTI leader Imran Ismail said the national dialogue initiative, launched a month ago, had now evolved into a formal committee. He termed Pakistan’s political situation abnormal and stressed that collective efforts were needed to steer the country towards development, adding that unity was essential to counter terrorism.
Barrister Saif said political polarisation had created serious national difficulties but dialogue could help reduce tensions. He called for reducing differences between PTI and the state, terming the release of the PTI founder and other political prisoners essential, and warned that continued fears of political fallout were worsening tensions rather than easing them.
The participants agreed to continue engagement and dialogue at the national level, reiterating that the National Dialogue Committee would persist in playing its role in the broader public and national interest.
