Opp vows struggle for return of democracy

Grand alliance demands apology from Constitution’s abrogators

LAHORE:

In a tit-for-tat response to the news conference of the DG ISPR, the opposition alliance on Saturday not only ‘rejected’ the military spokesperson’s claims but sought an apology from those who frequently abrogated the Constitution with ‘impunity’.

Declaring that there was no democracy left in the country, the newly-formed anti-government alliance launched a new nation-wide campaign, vowing that its struggle would continue till the return of democracy and restoration of the Constitution in the country.

“At this moment, there is no democracy in the country and the Constitution is continuously being fiddled with,” read a statement of the opposition alliance, the Tehreek-e- Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan.

The statements and decision to launch a country-wide movement came after a meeting of the anti-government parties in Islamabad. The meeting was chaired by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the chairman of new opposition alliance.

It was attended by PTI leaders Omar Ayub Khan and Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council, chairman, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), acting president, Sajid Khan Tareen, Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) leader Syed Nasir Shirazi and others.

The demand for an apology has come on the heels of the press conference held by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif on May 7, just two days before the May 9 mayhem’s anniversary. Pakistan Army sought a sincere and public apology from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and asked him to shun what it called “politics of anarchy and hate” to revive his political fortunes.

Read Opposition alliance not against army: Achakzai

However, Imran and the PTI leadership not only refused to tender an apology but the PTI spokesperson went on to say that “DG ISPR’s presser was a pack of lies, full of contradictions, venomous and devoid of logic”.

The opposition alliance has reiterated almost the same. The communiqué issued after the meeting stated that the leadership of the opposition alliance rejected the May 7 press conference and termed it “unconstitutional, illegal and in excess of authority”. The huddle then demanded an apology from the abrogators of the constitution.

During Saturday meeting, the opposition gathering evaluated the current political landscape and ratified significant decisions pertaining to a nationwide movement. It was agreed to pursue legal avenues for permission to hold public rallies in Karachi and Faisalabad, denouncing efforts by local authorities to impede these gatherings.

Moreover, the opposition coalition strongly condemned the recent violence against lawyers at the Lahore High Court and the tragic incident in Gwadar. Additionally, the coalition outlined plans for a nationwide campaign, including engagements with bar councils, seminars and rallies to raise awareness among the public and media.

During the meeting, participants expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of terrorism in Gwadar and denounced the mistreatment of lawyers and farmers. They pledged support for farmers' demands and called for accountability against wheat importers implicated in wrongdoing.

"Has anyone apologised for the [Fall of Dhaka]? Has anyone attempted to uncover the reasons behind it to this day?" asks PTI leader Raoof Hasan.