Islamabad: Amid a clear deadlock in stalled talks between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the government, opposition parties have decided to further strengthen their anti-government alliance. They also plan to expand engagement with like-minded parties through key meetings and discussions.
As part of this contact campaign, the opposition leadership will visit Sindh and, during a three-day stay, will meet leaders of like-minded parties, including Pir Pagara, the Grand Democratic Alliance, and Ayaz Palijo in Hyderabad.
This development comes days after PTI founder Imran Khan directed his party to expedite contact with other opposition parties for protests after Eid.
PTI’s strategy was announced by Khan’s lawyer, Faisal Chaudhry, who stated that the party was working towards forming a broad opposition alliance aimed at restoring the constitution and democracy.
According to Chaudhry, former Prime Minister Imran Khan instructed Asad Qaiser to establish contact with all opposition parties, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s Awaam Pakistan, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Mehrang Baloch, and others.
The opposition’s initiative includes a three-day stay in Sindh, during which their delegation will meet with Pir Pagara, the Grand Democratic Alliance, and Ayaz Palijo in Hyderabad.
The opposition delegation will include PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Achakzai, Qaiser, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Akhunzada Hussain, leaders of Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM).
The opposition alliance will also engage with the business community, the bar association, PTI Karachi officials, and journalists.
Separately, former Prime Minister and Awaam Pakistan Party convener Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told reporters, alongside Achakzai, that consultations with opposition parties were ongoing, as people sought solutions to the country’s current situation.
“[Mahmood Khan] Achakzai consulted me regarding the national conference scheduled for February 26-27. We agreed to hold this conference to find solutions to the country’s problems, as we want to play our role in resolving them,” he said.
He emphasized that they aimed to invite everyone to the conference, where national issues would be discussed, particularly as the youth of Pakistan were feeling disillusioned.
“To end their disappointment, we need to address the country’s problems. Our survival depends on the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law,” he remarked.
Speaking on the occasion, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan chief Achakzai stated that Parliament should be made the supreme institution through a genuine vote.
“Everyone is welcome to attend the conference, including serving and retired generals and judges. We should use our collective wisdom to steer the country out of crises,” he said.
Achakzai further stressed that he sought a fresh democratic beginning for Pakistan, ensuring the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution.
