KP CM Afridi meets Achakzai, Abbas amid reports of PTI-TTAP differences

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday met leaders of the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, amid reports of differences between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the opposition alliance.

The meeting was held at Achakzai’s residence in Islamabad. Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and other leaders also attended the sitting.

According to a statement shared on X by TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, the meeting took place on the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Yousafzai said, “Upon the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan, CM Afridi had an important meeting with Achakzai at his residence.”

He said the participants held detailed discussions on Imran Khan’s health and medical treatment, concerns related to his access to justice, restrictions on signing legal documents, the upcoming federal budget, the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, provincial rights, the broader political situation in the country and what he described as politically motivated cases.

In the same statement, Yousafzai said, “The meeting agreed on adopting a joint strategy to address national issues and emphasised the need to further strengthen coordination among opposition parties.”

The meeting came against the backdrop of reports that TTAP leaders were not being included in the decision-making process. Achakzai and Abbas are also serving as the opposition leaders in the National Assembly and the Senate, respectively.

Consultation with alliance leaders

During a public rally in Mardan last week, Afridi had said that the PTI founder had directed him to consult Abbas and Achakzai in the decision-making process, adding that he would remain mindful of that instruction.

Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram, while criticising Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, said the party had to “bring back” Abbas and Achakzai because they had become “disheartened”.

Both Abbas and Achakzai were nominated by Imran Khan as opposition leaders in the Senate and National Assembly. The PTI founder had also directed his party leadership to consult both leaders and had assigned them the task of holding talks with the government.

“Upon the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan, CM Afridi had an important meeting with Achakzai at his residence.”

“The meeting agreed on adopting a joint strategy to address national issues and emphasised the need to further strengthen coordination among opposition parties.”

The development follows recent reports of strain between PTI and TTAP over consultation and internal coordination, with Monday’s meeting indicating an effort to improve engagement between the party and the opposition alliance leadership.