Opp gears up for 'True Freedom Day' on Aug 14

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition has decided to mark August 14 - Independence Day - as the "Day of True Freedom", while gearing up to challenge the new election legislation that seeks to bar independent lawmakers from joining a party after a stipulated period.

Meanwhile, the symbolic hunger strike has also been temporarily suspended.

This was announced at an important meeting of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) held at the Parliament House and chaired by the movement's leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

The meeting was attended by major opposition leaders, including PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, former National Assembly (NA) speaker Asad Qaiser, BNP Acting President Sajid Tareen, SIC's Jawad Hassan Kazmi and Shandana Gulzar, among others.

The meeting reviewed the overall political situation of the country and discussed the future course of action for the movement.

After the meeting on Friday, Omar Ayub Khan addressed the media, stating that on August 13, students and youth will take to the streets with Pakistani flags, and on August 14, they will observe it as the "Day of True Freedom."

He added that the day will be marked by seminars focusing on the constitution and democracy.

Taking a swipe at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the PTI leader claimed the PPP leader is sitting on the fence, enjoying the government's perks but now scrambling as the winds of change blow against him.

"Now that Bilawal sees the government failing, he is panicking."

He said it was unfortunate that when the Imam of Masjid-e-Nabawi visited, Bilawal tried to give the wrong impression. He also pointed out that the coalition government, which Bilawal's party is part of, had added insult to injury by hiking electricity rates.

The opposition leader announced the suspension of the symbolic hunger strike camp that had been ongoing outside the parliament for the last 13 days.

Speaking to the media, TTAP leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai declared that there was no doubt PTI is the most popular party in the country, as proven by the successful rally in Swabi.

"This is the first alliance that is neither against anyone nor in opposition to anyone," he said.

He urged that the chief of army staff, judges, and others in positions of power should lead the country to ensure better governance.

"For us, the most important things are the Parliament and Pakistan," Achakzai asserted.

He also stressed the need for the SC to enforce its decisions according to the constitution and law, adding that election legislation has been passed to overturn the SC decisions.

Achakzai announced that 41 assembly members would challenge the legislation in court, and other parties would join the legal challenge as well. He also called for the immediate issuance of the notification appointing Justice Mansoor Ali Shah as chief justice.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI leader Asad Qaiser revealed that on August 14, Mahmood Achakzai will hold a seminar in Quetta, while the rest of the leadership will organize similar events in other cities.

He questioned the authority to alter decisions made by a full court and reiterated the opposition's support for the judiciary.