Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Friday announced that the joint opposition would hold an All Parties Conference (APC) soon on the creation of new provinces in the country. The PTI chairman made the remarks following a delegation-level meeting with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazalur Rehman at his residence.

Speaking to journalists outside Fazal's residence, Gohar said, "Today was the first meeting regarding the joint opposition," adding that they decided to take all political parties into confidence on national issues. The development came a day after Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had announced that parliamentary debate on the creation of new provinces would be held in October. The "joint opposition platform" would be used for consultation on assembly sessions and matters concerning prisoners, he added.

The PTI chairman said they had previously discussed the formation of a joint opposition with the JUI-F chief, adding that they agreed on the issue in the Senate and National Assembly. Gohar said the first meeting had been encouraging and that consultations would continue in the future too. He added that the opposition had not yet been invited to join their proposed long march, while discussions were held on participation in the APC.

For his part, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said, "We welcome the arrival of the opposition," adding that the consultative meeting discussed the proposed APC, the establishment of provinces, and other issues. Haideri said that the political parties would have to play a collective role in resolving the country's problems, adding that other parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, were protesting against inflation. He said JUI-F had also held rallies across the country over inflation.

According to a declaration issued after the meeting, a PTI delegation led by Chairman Barrister Gohar visited the residence of the JUI-F chief. The delegation also included Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, and Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri and Maulana Asad Mahmood were also present during the meeting, the statement read. The participants discussed the proposed APC by the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP)).