Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared on Friday that the joint opposition will soon convene an All Parties Conference (APC) focused on the creation of new provinces in Pakistan. This announcement followed a delegation-level meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazalur Rehman at his residence.

Speaking to journalists outside Fazal’s home, Gohar described the meeting as the first step toward forming a joint opposition platform. He emphasized the decision to involve all political parties in consultations on key national issues. This development comes shortly after Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced that parliamentary discussions on the formation of new provinces are scheduled for October.

Gohar added that the joint opposition forum would also serve as a consultative body on assembly sessions and matters related to prisoners. He noted that earlier talks with JUI-F leadership had resulted in agreement on collaborating in both the Senate and National Assembly. The PTI chairman called the initial meeting encouraging and indicated that further consultations would continue.

Regarding the opposition’s proposed long march, Gohar stated that they had not yet received an invitation but were deliberating on their participation in the upcoming APC. JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri welcomed the opposition’s involvement and confirmed that the meeting covered the proposed APC, the establishment of new provinces, and other pressing issues. Haideri stressed the importance of political parties working collectively to address the country’s challenges, noting that Jamaat-e-Islami and others were actively protesting inflation. He also mentioned that JUI-F had organized rallies nationwide against rising prices.

A declaration issued after the meeting revealed that the PTI delegation, led by Chairman Barrister Gohar, included Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, and Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai. JUI-F representatives Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Maulana Asad Mahmood were also present. Discussions focused on the APC proposed by Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), the PTI’s September 27 protest call, rule of law, and constitutional supremacy. The parties engaged in detailed talks about reinforcing Pakistan’s constitutional and democratic framework, underscoring the need for mutual consultation and joint political efforts.

Separately, TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai announced via an X post that consultations have begun on arranging a meeting between the opposition leader’s office and the prime minister, following a letter from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He confirmed that, considering Pakistan’s worsening situation, an APC will be convened at the earliest opportunity.

Earlier on Friday, opposition leaders met in the chamber of Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, with Achakzai presiding. The meeting included discussions on the September 27 protest and related political strategies.

The debate on new administrative units was initially sparked in July by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who criticized the governance system as having “collapsed” and called for fundamental reforms to devolve greater powers to lower levels through new provinces. Naqvi later clarified that his criticism referred to systemic deterioration over the past 80 years, not any specific administration. On September 5, he stressed that the creation of new provinces should reflect the people’s wishes, describing the process as a system reset aimed at correcting past errors rather than dismantling the structure.

The conversation expanded when Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal proposed a national dialogue on Pakistan’s administrative framework and suggested the creation of 12 to 15 provinces. Notably, the ruling coalition partners, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), appear divided over this issue, highlighting ongoing political complexities surrounding the formation of new administrative units.