The Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Wednesday expressed readiness to hold talks with the government on the constitution, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, while announcing it would secure former prime minister Imran Khan’s signature on a proposed new national charter.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the opposition alliance chaired by TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, convened to review Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s renewed offer of negotiations with the opposition.

The meeting was attended by Vice Chairman Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Sajid Tareen and Hussain Yousafzai.

Participants also held consultations on the opposition’s two-day national conference and preparations for observing February 8 as a “Black Day,” including a nationwide and international strike.

It was decided to form provincial and district committees to ensure the success of the protest, with sub-committees to be announced shortly.

The meeting agreed that a new charter was essential to steer the country out of its political and economic crises.

It was decided that the proposed charter would include demands for transparent elections, the appointment of a new chief election commissioner and the supremacy of parliament.

Achakzai stressed the need for consensus among all political parties on the 1973 Constitution and announced that TTAP would take responsibility for obtaining Imran Khan’s endorsement of the new charter.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, while addressing a federal cabinet meeting, had once again invited PTI for talks.

The prime minister said he had repeatedly extended dialogue offers, including on the floor of the National Assembly, but stressed that negotiations would only be held on legitimate demands and that blackmail would not be tolerated.