At Parliament House, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and lawyer Gohar Ali Khan maintained their sit-in that began after Friday prayers. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Tehreek-e-Tahfuz-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) protest sit-in outside Parliament over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s deteriorating health entered its second day on Saturday, with leaders vowing to continue until he is transferred to Shifa International Hospital for emergency eye treatment.
At the Parliament building, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and lawyer Gohar Ali Khan maintained their sit-in that began after Friday prayers, while KP CM Sohail Afridi and other PTI leaders continued their separate protest at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House. Heavy police forces were still deployed at both places.
“Our sit-in is ongoing and will continue,” Senate opposition leader Nasir Abbas told reporters, adding that their water and food supplies had been cut off. “But we’re not giving up,” he said.
Read: TTAP stages sit-in outside Parliament, seeks Imran Khan’s admission to Shifa International Hospital
The federal police once again sealed off the red zone on Saturday, keeping only Margalla Road open for access. After conducting searches there, vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Shahrah-e-Dastoor, while the Parliament building and D-Chowk remained closed to all traffic. Police vans and armored vehicles were located outside both demonstration sites.
Aslam Ghauri, spokesman for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), condemned what he called violence against the TTAP protest. “Honorable members of parliament and the provincial assembly were dragged,” Ghauri said, adding that those who barricaded protesters inside parliament also call themselves champions of democracy.
“Scorn for democracy, manipulation of the constitution and opposition to Islam are the hallmarks of this government,” he said. “The false and coerced government has gone mad in the fire of vengeance.”
Read more: The government is planning to shift Imran to Islamabad
Ghauri demanded the immediate release of arrested leaders and warned that the government’s behavior had undermined public confidence in democracy. “It is because of these very actions by the government that there is anarchy in Balochistan and KP. Do those in power want to spread this anarchy across the country?” he asked.
The protests were sparked by a Supreme Court-mandated report revealing that Imran Khan has only 15% vision left in his right eye, allegedly due to medical complications while in custody in Adiala jail.
Although the government has defended the timeline for Khan’s medical treatment, the opposition continues to allege negligence and constitutional violations. The government’s side appeared to be on the back foot after voices were raised from both sides of the divide demanding better treatment of the jailed former prime minister.
