Opposition vows to defend people's rights

The top leadership of opposition parties reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the supremacy of the Constitution, vowing to strengthen alliances with like-minded political forces.

Speaking at the "Meet the Press" program at Karachi Press Club (KPC), Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chief Mahmood Achakzai, along with key opposition figures, stressed that Pakistan's ongoing crises could only be resolved by ensuring constitutional governance.

The event was also attended by senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including Salman Akram Raja, Asad Qaiser, Sajid Tareen, Akhundzada Hussain, and Latif Khosa, as well as Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

Achakzai criticized past leadership, stating, "Pakistan is a developing country, but it has suffered under poor governance. We have now come together on one platform to ensure constitutional supremacy."

He added that in today's Pakistan, "those who sell their conscience are deemed loyal, while truth-speakers are labeled as traitors." He asserted that the whole country knew PTI had won the February 2024 elections.

Salman Akram Raja echoed similar sentiments, saying that confusion and uncertainty prevailed across the country. "The people of Pakistan want democracy and their rights to be respected. There is no future for Pakistan without democracy," he said. Raja also defended PTI founder Imran Khan's recent letters, emphasizing that Khan was not seeking personal relief but rather advocating for adherence to the Constitution.

Khosa condemned the crackdown on PTI protesters in Islamabad on November 26, 2024, holding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, and the Punjab police chief accountable. He also rejected recent amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), revealing that Chief Justice Yahya Afridi had assured opposition leaders that Imran Khan's letter had been referred to the Supreme Court's Constitutional Bench.

SIC chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza criticized the government's lack of transparency, stating that CCTV footage from November 26 had not been released, contradicting official claims about the crackdown. Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser attributed the problems in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to flawed foreign policies.

Later, PTI leaders visited Mazar-e-Quaid, offering Fateha and laying flowers at the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Speaking to the media, Raja reaffirmed that PTI's politics followed the principles of the Quaid, stating, "Karachi voted for PTI in the last elections, but our mandate was stolen. We stand with the people and will be their voice in Sindh."

Highlighting Sindh's water shortages and deteriorating law and order situation, Raja assured that PTI would stand shoulder to shoulder with the public. "In politics, power comes from the people, not institutions," he asserted.

Responding to a question, Raja confirmed that opposition leaders had met with the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), establishing a working relationship. He accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of oppressing the people of Sindh.

Asad Qaiser announced that PTI would launch a public awareness campaign to prevent future election rigging. "We demand the immediate release of all our leaders and workers, including Imran Khan," he stated.

PTI leaders Advocate Sardar Latif Khosa and PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh also addressed the gathering. Other PTI provincial leaders, including Dr. Masroor Sial, Raja Azhar, Fahim Khan, Shabbir Qureshi, Sajjad Soomro, and Chaudhry Awais, were also present.