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Former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Courtesy: X
ISLAMABAD:
Leaders of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) criticized the government’s national security strategy, foreign policy stance and economic management.
The opposition alliance warned that rising poverty, government failures and flawed diplomatic choices were pushing the country towards irreparable damage.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Central leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar along with PTI’s Taimur Khan Jhagra and other alliance representatives expressed concern over the recent major terrorist incidents in Islamabad and Balochistan.
Khokhar said the state must move forward “with clarity” in tackling terrorism and stressed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were terrorist organizations that should be dealt with strictly.
However, he argued that the government appeared to be failing in its response.
Khokhar also raised alarm over regional developments, claiming that “clouds of war loomed over a neighboring country” and alleged that the US had deployed two naval fleets against Iran.
He said the scale of the military movement was the largest since 2003, before the attack on Iraq, and questioned why no serious discussion was taking place in Pakistan about the potential implications of regime change efforts in Iran for the country.
Khokhar, who slammed Pakistan’s participation in US President Donald Trump’s peace council, referred to a report by The Guardian which claimed the gathering was attended by representatives of dictators and monarchies, while countries such as China and Britain stayed away.
He said that Pakistan had participated without taking anyone into confidence and claimed that soon after the participation, news emerged of a deal regarding the Roosevelt Hotel. He questioned the basis on which the Roosevelt Hotel was handed over and demanded that the government disclose the terms and conditions of any such deal.
On internal governance, Khokhar said the current system had failed to serve the people, citing deteriorating law and order. He warned that if the current trajectory continued, it would shake the foundations of the country and called for transparent elections.
He also demanded release of political prisoners, provision of best medical facilities to PTI founder Imran Khan and accountability of a “Form 47 government” that did not consider itself accountable.
On the economy, Taimur Khan Jhagra dismissed the government’s claims of recovery, saying that despite controlled media narratives depicting improvements, official data showed otherwise, even after four years.
Referring to the recently released National Poverty Report, issued by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Jhagra said 29 percent of Pakistan’s population now lives below the poverty line, up from 22 percent in 2018.
He lamented that over the past 11 years, poverty had increased significantly and that the disparity between rich and poor had grown to the highest level since 1998.
Jhagra claimed that poverty had increased by 41 percent in Punjab, 33 percent in Sindh, 23 percent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 12 percent in Balochistan, noting that two traditionally poorer provinces had outperformed the richer ones.
He said total household income had fallen by 10 percent since 2015, adding that below the official poverty line, a person earning more than Rs282 per day was not considered poor.
“What can Rs 282 buy?” he asked, estimating that around 130 million Pakistanis lived below the poverty line. He added that the poverty level in Bangladesh and India was half the level in Pakistan.
He further claimed that foreign direct investment had fallen by 42 percent, arguing that the government lacked a coherent economic model and instead shifted focus between minerals, cryptocurrency and corporate agriculture without results.
He also cited the government’s unemployment report, claiming it reflected the highest unemployment rate in 21 years.
Jhagra criticized the Punjab government’s purchase of an aircraft reportedly worth Rs 10 billion, comparing it to jets owned by figures such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos or heads of wealthy states, and said it could not realistically be intended for Air Punjab’s commercial operations.
He claimed that although Pakistan International Airlines had been sold for Rs10 billion, no justification had been given for the aircraft purchase at a time when people were struggling to afford basic necessities.
He also claimed that special privileges were given to the Inspector General and Chief Secretary of Punjab, including permission to keep 1800cc, 2800cc and 4500cc vehicles, with monthly petrol expenses of Rs 700,000.
He questioned whether Pakistan had one of the highest GDP per capita. per capita in the world to justify such benefits.
The former provincial finance minister also cited an Al Jazeera report that claimed the CCD had carried out 900 extrajudicial killings and said Rs 40 billion had been spent on a digital firewall project that was later shut down.
He noted that Palestine had no representation in the Peace Council and warned that if a pro-Israel government emerged in Iran, Israel’s strategic presence could extend closer to Pakistan’s borders.
TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai also expressed concern over PTI founder Imran Khan’s health and stated that another injection was scheduled for February 24 or 25.
He demanded that the jailed leader be taken to Shifa International Hospital for treatment in the presence of his family and Dr. Asim.
Yousafzai further condemned the recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and urged that disputes with neighboring countries be resolved through dialogue.
