Opposition alliance to hold nationwide protests against Imran’s imprisonment, inflation on Friday

ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday announced countrywide protests on Friday against the continued imprisonment of PTI founder Imran Khan, soaring inflation, rising petroleum prices and what they described as growing political victimisation in the country.

The announcement came after a joint meeting of PTI’s parliamentary party and TTAP leadership in Islamabad, where opposition leaders expressed serious concern over the political and economic situation and vowed to intensify their movement both inside and outside parliament.

Addressing a press conference outside Parliament House, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser said the entire nation was concerned about the health of Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, who remain incarcerated at Adiala Jail.

Qaiser said the PTI parliamentary party had unanimously endorsed the decisions taken during Monday’s TTAP summit chaired by opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai.

“Nationwide protests will be held on Friday against inflation, rising fuel prices, deteriorating law and order, concerns over the health of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi, and the denial of fundamental human rights,” Qaiser announced.

He said the opposition would also demand the immediate transfer of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to a hospital, the release of all political prisoners and restoration of constitutional freedoms.

The senior PTI leader paid tribute to political workers and leaders who, he said, were facing imprisonment and political persecution during the struggle for democracy and constitutional supremacy.

Warning the government against what he termed continued suppression of the opposition, Qaiser said the opposition benches would not allow parliament to function smoothly if the “same discriminatory attitude” persisted.

He further announced that PTI lawmakers would stage protests during parliamentary proceedings as well.

Criticising the government’s economic policies, Qaiser termed the upcoming federal budget an “anti-poor budget”, alleging that authorities were preparing to impose additional taxes on an already burdened public.

“Hopes for justice in the country are fading while inflation, unemployment and economic misery continue to rise,” he said.

Qaiser maintained that if Imran Khan’s cases were heard transparently and on merit, “he would not remain in jail even for a moment”.

The PTI leader also criticised the government’s handling of regional and foreign affairs, claiming that terrorism was resurging due to flawed policies and that ties with Afghanistan were being mishandled.

He said business activities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa had suffered badly, while restrictions on wheat and flour transportation from Punjab were aggravating public hardship.

PTI parliamentary leader Shahid Khattak, meanwhile, called the government “incompetent” and accused it of coming to power through “Form 47 rigging”.

“We will take our case to the court of the people on Friday,” Khattak said, inviting citizens from across the country to participate in the demonstrations.

Separately, TTAP also issued a detailed statement after its leadership meeting, attended by Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and senior lawyer Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan among others.

The alliance expressed concern over worsening economic conditions, prolonged electricity load-shedding, inflation, unemployment and difficulties faced by farmers, labourers and salaried individuals.

The statement claimed the upcoming federal budget would effectively be an “IMF budget” that would place further financial pressure on ordinary citizens.

TTAP leaders strongly condemned what they described as unconstitutional treatment of opposition parties and political prisoners, including Imran Khan, Ali Wazir, Dr Mahrang Baloch, Sahibzada Hamid Raza and others.

The alliance demanded immediate medical treatment and unrestricted meetings for Imran Khan, while reiterating calls for the release of all political detainees.

The opposition alliance also criticised the legitimacy of the current assemblies, alleging that legislation through what it termed a “Form 47 government” lacked democratic credibility.

The participants reaffirmed their resolve to continue their movement for constitutional supremacy, democracy and protection of provincial rights, announcing that protest demonstrations would be held at district headquarters across the country on Friday.