Opposition Alliance announces to-day APC in Islamabad

An alliance of opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI), has announced a two-day All Parties Conference (APC) held in Islamabad on July 31 and August 1, reported Express News.

The announcement was published at a joint press conference by Tehreek-E-Tahaffuz-Ein Pakistan (TTAP) leaders and senior position in Islamabad, including TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PTI-Leder Salman Akram Raja, Babar Awan, Barrister Saif, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and others.

Achakzai stated that this was the first political alliance that was not formed at the request of any institution. “This is not a theater for political entertainment. Our alliance will continue until the establishment of a neutral election commission, supremacy of the constitution and restoration of parliamentary sovereignty,” he said.

He criticized the formation of the current government and claimed it was imposed through fear and manipulation. “The party that won the parliamentary election had its leader imprisoned. On the 9th of May, 10-year-old judgments even handed down to minors. This is not justice; this is mockery of a democratic state,” he added.

Achakzai, who is also the head of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, promised to campaign against the government from “Gade to Gade and City to City”, which expands the movement from Gilgit-Baltistan to Gwadar.

He called for a peaceful protest movement and said the upcoming APC would also invite representatives from state institutions. “We will support any suppressed group in the country without any conditions,” he said.

Majlis Wahdatul Muslime (MWM) President Allama Raja Nasir Abbas repeated similar concerns and asked the legitimacy of recent political decisions, especially those relating to reserved seats. “If democracy existed in Pakistan, the order of reserved seats would not have come. Parties welcoming such seats are like those who consume Karrion – it’s unethical,” he said.

He criticized military operations in Balochistan and said they had not brought stability. “The use of power has never succeeded. It’s always the people who win in the end,” he noted.

Senator Abbas warned that any attempt to block peaceful protests would be the government’s responsibility. A major protest under the banner by Tehreek-E-Tahaffuz-E-Ain (Constitution Protection Movement) is also scheduled for August 5th.

In addition, Raja said the movement aimed to rule the country back in the right direction and restore constitutional democracy. “This country cannot be driven through coercion. Our movement is constitutional, ideological and peaceful,” he said. “No one should try to abuse our protest to justify state oppression.”

He claimed that PTI supporters were punished solely for their political affiliation. “Today, walking on the streets or raising your voice has become a crime. These are rights recognized by the Constitution, the United Nations and our religion,” he said.

The opposition alliance promised to continue its movement through constitutional and peaceful means and claim that any crash would only strengthen their determination. The upcoming APC is expected to set the course a coordinated political strategy across party lines.