The opposition alliance cites political, security crises; seeks dialogue on Balochistan and AJK
ISLAMABAD:
The opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin Pakistan (TTAP), on Friday announced a nationwide protest movement from August 5 with demonstrations and a public outreach campaign over “a deteriorating political and security situation” across the country.
The announcement was made at a joint press conference by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other alliance leaders.
The joint press conference was held after a consultation meeting a day earlier. They said the campaign will begin on August 5, which is three years since former prime minister Imran Khan’s conviction. The timetable for the protests will be announced after further consultations with the constituent parties.
The alliance demanded the immediate resignation of the Balochistan government, a joint session of parliament to discuss terrorism and the situation in Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and postponement of the upcoming AJK elections pending stakeholder dialogue.
It also demanded the immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other political prisoners. It also expressed concern over the trial of Aleema Khan, sister of Imran, whom it described as political victimization of Khan’s family.
The alliance has prioritized the Balochistan issue after the recent violence in the province and will not ignore the situations in either Balochistan or AJK, Achakzai, who is also the head of TTAP, told the press conference.
Referring to the recent attack near Ziarat, Achakzai claimed that policemen had been deployed with insufficient ammunition and that no official had been held accountable after the incident.
Khokhar said the alliance had finalized its demands after extensive consultations and argued that immediate political engagement was needed to prevent further deterioration in Balochistan and AJK. He said the alliance supported postponing the AJK election and urged the government to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Speaking to The Express Pakinomist, TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Syed said PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had suggested during Thursday’s consultative meeting that the opposition launch a nationwide protest campaign on August 5, marking three years since Imran Khan’s conviction.
He added that the alliance was considering holding either more events across the country or a larger gathering, with the final schedule to be decided after further consultations.
Responding to a question whether TTAP was planning any action before August 5, Hussain said Achakzai and other alliance leaders would visit Balochistan on Sunday (tomorrow) to meet protesters and assess the situation on the ground. He said the alliance would subsequently try to visit AJK after an earlier effort by its leaders to travel there was stalled.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram told The Express Pakinomist that the party was “exactly on the same page” as the TTAP regarding the protest movement and its demands.
Akram was also asked about an apparent contradiction as TTAP is demanding postponement of the AJK elections, but the vote is scheduled for July 27, ahead of the nationwide movement’s launch on August 5, and what PTI/TTAP plans to do if the elections go ahead as planned.
“We have boycotted the elections. We are not participating in these elections,” Waqas Akram replied, saying that TTAP would decide its next course of action if the elections went ahead as planned.
