Opposition divided ahead of anti-govt protest

ISLAMABAD: Major opposition parties are preparing protest activities against the government on Friday over inflation and governance issues, but they are moving ahead on separate tracks, underlining continuing divisions within the opposition.

According to the reported plans, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have each announced their own programmes instead of forming a joint platform. The lack of coordination comes despite common criticism of the government’s handling of the economy and rising prices.

TTAP announces May 22 demonstrations

The latest call came from TTAP, whose alliance includes Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The alliance announced nationwide demonstrations for May 22 after a late-night meeting on Monday attended by PTI leaders and other opposition figures.

TTAP’s agenda goes beyond inflation and governance concerns. It is also pressing demands linked to former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, including access to medical treatment. The announcement followed remarks by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who said the opposition would step up its response if meetings with Imran Khan were not arranged and if demands relating to his medical care were not met.

JUI-F and JI maintain separate course

JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman had already announced protest plans over inflation and economic conditions during a Karachi rally on May 15. Separately, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman filed a constitutional petition on Tuesday against higher fuel prices and taxes, and also announced a nationwide protest movement beginning on May 22 against inflation.

Although the timing of these protest calls overlaps, senior leaders of JUI-F and JI indicated they were not considering joining a protest front led by TTAP or PTI-backed groups.

Senior JUI-F leader Kamran Murtaza said his party believed it was preferable for each political force to hold its own protest activities, citing unresolved confidence issues with PTI. He said JUI-F had previously taken part in joint political efforts, including cooperation on constitutional matters such as the 26th Amendment, and had done what PTI asked of it, but later felt it was unfairly blamed after the process ended.

He said similar concerns had continued in subsequent developments, contributing to mistrust between the two sides despite their shared opposition to the government.

JI Pakistan Deputy Chief Liaquat Baloch also dismissed the prospect of a joint protest arrangement, saying political parties were entitled to mobilise through their own platforms.

PTI calls for unity on public issues

Responding to questions about the absence of a united opposition platform, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh said political parties should at least come together on public issues such as inflation and governance even if they differ on broader political matters.

He said TTAP had earlier tried to build wider coordination on economic issues, and added that Achakzai had conveyed to Fazlur Rehman in a previous meeting that while parties might disagree on other political questions, they should at least make a joint announcement on inflation.

The separate protest plans reflect overlapping opposition messaging against the government, but also show that efforts to build a common front remain unlikely for now because of continuing mistrust and fragmentation among opposition parties.