Opposition conference faces setbacks

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reached the venue, only to find a heavy presence of FC and police forces.

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The national conference of the Opposition Grand Alliance faced an obstacle as Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the convenor of the opposition's liaison committee and former Prime Minister, was barred from entering a private hotel in Islamabad, where the conference was supposed to be held.

The Grand Alliance accused the authorities of attempting to halt the conference and vowed to hold the event at all costs. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reached the venue, only to find a heavy presence of FC (Frontier Constabulary) and police forces stationed outside the hotel.

Upon his arrival, Abbasi was denied entry.

Addressing the situation, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, stated that those who advised Mohsin Naqvi and Shehbaz Sharif to stop the conference from happening should be given 'Duffer Award' on March 23.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the country, stating, "The country is not progressing."

Omar Ayub further criticised the government, describing it as an "installment 47" government, lacking a mandate from the people. He also criticised the government's attempts to advertise in newspapers, stating that such actions wouldn't lead to progress.

Omar Ayub, in his speech, called for a public rally in Balochistan, despite opposition from the provincial government. He also mentioned that the issue of missing persons was one that they had raised before the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Furthermore, he demanded that the federal government fulfill its obligations to the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

He concluded by stressing the importance of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, stating, "We are here to strengthen the state and defend the Constitution, particularly Article 7, which clearly defines the state."

Earlier yesterday, the Opposition Grand Alliance accused the government of attempting to block their planned conference, insisting that the event will take place as scheduled tomorrow, despite the obstacles.

The alliance's leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Omar Ayub, and others, held a press conference after a crucial meeting to discuss the situation.

Abbasi revealed that the alliance had been trying to secure a venue for the conference for the past week. He said initially, the first venue was cancelled, followed by a second one, with the explanation that the national cricket team needed to pass through.