ISLAMABAD: The Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) has decided to give a positive response to the government’s offer of dialogue “despite the fact its attitude has been inflexible and non-accommodative” so far.
According to a source within the opposition alliance, the decision was made during the TTAP Central Committee meeting held here on Wednesday night. The deliberations were held during an Iftar-dinner gathering at the residence of the opposition alliance’s Vice-Chairman and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar.
Besides Khokhar, the meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, TTAP and PkMAP Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Leader of the Opposition in Senate and Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former National Assembly Speaker and TTAP Secretary General Asad Qaiser.
The source added that the final decision on when and how to respond to the other side will be made by Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas at an appropriate time. Given the current situation, in which the rulers are unwilling to change their “attitude and style,” it remains difficult to offer positive signals.
Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas, who already have a mandate from the jailed PTI leader Imran Khan to pursue negotiations if and when they see fit, are expected to make progress on the dialogue process.
During the meeting, the TTAP leadership demanded immediate treatment of former prime minister Imran Khan at Shifa International Hospital, along with a medical examination by his personal doctors. The opposition leaders also drew attention to the health of imprisoned Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and demanded the release of all political prisoners, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Ijaz Chaudhry, Ali Wazir, Mahrang Baloch and others.
The leadership also demanded immediate lifting of restrictions on the PTI founder’s access to his lawyers and family meetings. They stated that Imran Khan has been unjustly detained and should be released.
On the occasion, the opposition leaders announced that in the coming months, they would begin presenting an alternative budget along with economic and policy proposals developed with the help of experts. During the meeting, the TTAP leadership also drew attention to the growing clouds of war in the region, alleging that the US and Israel are trying to surround Iran and destroy or divide it through military attacks. The opposition leaders said that at this time, Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran is the need of the hour so that Pakistan and the region can be saved from the devastating effects of what they termed “Zionist aggression.” They also condemned the current government’s inclusion in Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’.
The opposition leaders also expressed grave concern over the alarming increase in terrorism across the country, worsening conflict with Afghanistan, possibility of war in the region, growing devastation of the economy and increasing oppression and lawlessness.
The TTAP leadership expressed deep concern over the increase in terrorist attacks across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in recent weeks. They demanded that the federal government bring together the provincial government, all political parties and the public to formulate a solid national strategy to combat terrorism. Regarding the escalating conflict with Afghanistan, opposition leaders called on the governments of both countries to avoid further confrontation and initiate concrete, honest and meaningful negotiations to seriously address the issue of terrorism.
Meanwhile, talking informally to journalists at the Parliament House here on Thursday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan clarified that the party founder Imran Khan’s family was kept updated on everything minute by minute. “I think had we not informed the family, what was the point of us sitting here?” he said, referring to the party’s recent sit-in, which they ended on the eve of Ramazan.
Responding to questions about Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan’s aggressive media talk a day earlier and her criticism of the party leadership, Gohar emphasised that there was nothing he did alone and that he will continue to work wholeheartedly for the PTI founder.
He said that Aleema Apa also wanted to know who else was with him on the conference call with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. “I want to tell you that apart from these people, the other person with me on the call was Sohail Afridi from our side,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the KP provincial government officially announced the creation of a specialised “Imran Khan Release Force” to spearhead a national movement for the release of PTI founder from jail. Speaking to the press outside Adiala jail, provincial spokesperson Shafi Jan confirmed that the new organisation would be led by Sohail Afridi and would function under a formal chain of command within the constitutional framework. According to Jan, the force will recruit youth from across the country to participate in a peaceful street movement aimed specifically at securing the former prime minister’s release.
Meanwhile, authorities at Adiala jail blocked several high-ranking PTI leaders from meeting with Imran Khan on Thursday, despite it being a scheduled visitation day.
The delegation, consisting of MNA Shahid Khattak, MPA Meena Khan Afridi and KP government spokesperson Barrister Ali Saif, arrived on Adiala Road intending to conduct the meeting but was intercepted by police at the Dahgal checkpoint. The PTI leaders were ultimately forced to turn back without seeing the party founder.
