PTI eyes grand opposition alliance

JI, other parties to be invited to join anti-govt bloc

ISLAMABAD:

In its bid to give the ruling government sleepless nights, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced its intentions to expand the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) platform into a 'grand opposition alliance. The former ruling party says it will invite opposition forces, which are still not part of the alliance, including Jamat-e-Islami, to join the anti-government movement, it emerged on Thursday.

"Jamat-e-Islami, among others, will be invited to join the opposition alliance," a senior party leader said, while requesting anonymity. He revealed how the opposition alliance will be expanded in the next few weeks. If JI and JUI-F join the opposition alliance, he said, the situation will become more favourable for PTI as all three can gather massive crowds in upcoming rallies and jalsas.

PTI and JUI-F, the two bitter political arch-rivals, have been discussing ways to unite against the PML-N ruling alliance. Both sides have been expressing their doubts over the results of the February 8, 2024, general elections.

As the PTI prepares for a major rally next week, senior party leader Asad Qaiser has told the media that imprisoned party founder Imran Khan has approved the formation of the grand opposition alliance through expansion of the TTAP platform in the coming weeks.

"PTI decided to expand the opposition alliance in a meeting with Imran Khan," said Qaiser, a former speaker of the National Assembly. He was speaking to the media talk outside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail alongside the party's secretary general Omar Ayub Khan and others.

The ex-speaker said that the former ruling party plans to unite all opposition parties for a robust anti-government movement, saying the upcoming power show in Swabi aims to raise a strong voice for the release of founding chairman and other detained PTI leaders. "This country will only be governed in accordance with the law and the Constitution," he vowed.

Qaiser also criticised the incumbent government over rising electricity bills, saying that they were unacceptable for the inflation-hit masses. He expressed PTI's support for Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) sit-in at Rawalpindi's Murree Road, protesting against the steep hike in power bills since July 26.

Addressing criticism over PTI's demand for negotiations, Ayub clarified that no discussion took place regarding dialogue today. However, Imran stressed that the military belongs to the nation and vice versa. Ayub accused the ruling PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party-Parliamentarian of trying to create a rift between the military and the public–PTI.

On the legal battles surrounding Imran Khan, Ayub said PTI is fighting for their party founder's release, but he was being arrested in one after the other case just to prevent his freedom. He accused the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of preventing the release of Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, despite having no involvement in the Toshakhana case.

Ayub reiterated that Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq should recuse themselves from hearing cases involving the PTI founder. He criticised the justice system, demanding it serve justice to the PTI founder, and alleged that former PM Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan after "getting an NRO".