Opposition Alliance warns of escalating crisis over Imran's health, demands release of political prisoners

ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Thursday warned that any criminal negligence regarding the health of Imran Khan could further aggravate the country’s political crisis.

In a statement issued on social media platform X following its central committee meeting and Iftar gathering at the residence of TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar in Islamabad, opposition leaders expressed grave concern over the former premier’s health and ongoing incarceration.

The meeting was attended by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council leader Sahibzada Hassan, and others.

According to the statement, TTAP leaders demanded that Imran Khan be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised medical treatment, examined by his personal physicians Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Aasim Yusuf, and granted unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members.

The alliance condemned what it termed the government’s “continued illegal secrecy” regarding the former premier’s medical reports and test results, stating that concealment was increasing doubts and fears about his condition. It reiterated that Imran Khan had been imprisoned in “false cases” and must be released.

The statement also demanded the release of other political figures, including incarcerated Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Bushra Bibi, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ali Wazir, and Mahrang Baloch.

Beyond the issue of political detentions, TTAP expressed serious concern over what it described as an alarming rise in terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, deteriorating relations with Afghanistan, worsening economic indicators, and growing repression and lawlessness.

The alliance called for the formulation of a comprehensive national strategy involving federal and provincial governments, political stakeholders, and the public to address terrorism. It also urged Islamabad and Kabul to avoid confrontation and initiate meaningful negotiations to tackle militancy, while suggesting diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries and friendly states such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

Citing recently released economic data, the statement claimed poverty had risen to 29 per cent and unemployment had reached a 21-year high. It alleged a sharp decline in both foreign and domestic investment and pointed to the exit of multinational companies as evidence of a deteriorating economic climate.

TTAP announced that in the coming months it would present an alternative budget and policy proposals, prepared with expert input, to address the country’s economic and legal challenges.

The alliance also voiced concern over the prospect of a US attack on Iran, warning that such action would destabilise the region. It urged the government to play a diplomatic role in preventing any escalation and expressed solidarity with Iran.

Lastly, TTAP criticised the government’s decision to join Board of Peace, describing it as an attempt to create a non-representative alternative to the United Nations and objecting to what it called the exclusion of Palestinians from the initiative.