Jailed PTI leaders reject PM’s economic charter, demand ‘charter of Pakistan

In a letter sent through their legal representative, senior PTI figures including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry,

ISLAMABAD: Several jailed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have dismissed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s proposal for a “Charter of Economy,” arguing that Pakistan first needs a broader national agreement centered on constitutional supremacy, democratic principles, and political stability.

In a letter sent through their legal representative, senior PTI figures including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Omar Sarfraz Cheema said that lasting economic progress cannot be achieved without first addressing what they described as the country’s underlying political and constitutional challenges.

The response came days after Prime Minister Shehbaz renewed his call for both a Charter of Economy and a Charter of Democracy, urging political parties to put aside differences and work together for the country’s future. He stressed that national interests should take precedence over political rivalries and maintained that unity was essential for Pakistan’s development.

The PTI leaders, however, questioned the effectiveness of an economic charter in the absence of constitutional supremacy and political certainty. They argued that sustainable economic growth requires a stable political environment, respect for the rule of law, and confidence in democratic institutions.

According to the letter, investment and economic expansion flourish only when constitutional principles are upheld and governance remains predictable. The imprisoned leaders maintained that economic reforms alone would not resolve the country’s difficulties unless the root causes of instability were addressed.

They proposed a “Charter of Pakistan” that would bring political parties, state institutions, and other stakeholders together on key national principles. Such an agreement, they said, should ensure the supremacy of the Constitution, respect for electoral mandates, an end to political engineering, institutional adherence to constitutional limits, and a transparent accountability framework.

The PTI leaders further argued that countries that achieved significant economic success first established stable political systems and clear democratic rules before pursuing ambitious economic agendas. In their view, political stability creates the foundation for economic prosperity rather than the other way around.

Concluding their message, the PTI leaders urged the prime minister to initiate a comprehensive national dialogue focused on constitutional governance and democratic consensus, saying that only such an approach could provide a durable solution to Pakistan’s ongoing challenges.