TTAP, JUI-F announce separate Feb 8 protests

ISLAMABAD:

Major opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), are gearing up for protests on February 8 to mark the second anniversary of the general elections, but a unified opposition front appears elusive as key parties on Monday announced separate agitation plans.

Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), a grand opposition alliance in which PTI is a major stakeholder, held a meeting in Islamabad with its head and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, in the chair.

The meeting was convened to fine-tune the strategy for the February 8 protest. Separately, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (F) also unveiled its plans for the day.

What emerged from the developments on Monday was that TTAP appears to have opted for a one-day protest rather than a prolonged anti-government campaign, lending weight to reports that the notification of Achakzai as leader of the opposition in the lower house may steer PTI away from politics of disruption.

After chairing the meeting, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) chairman confirmed to reporters that the February 8 protest would be a one-day affair.

"The public is only being requested to peacefully cooperate for one day against these oppressive policies and to exercise their constitutional right to protest," Achakzai said, indicating that the opposition alliance was not seeking confrontation with the government.

The TTAP head said the protest call would include a "complete shutter down strike" on February 8, adding that the opposition alliance would begin reaching out to shopkeepers, transporters and other stakeholders for cooperation.

While TTAP has no plans to launch a prolonged protest on February 8, Achakzai did hint at the possibility of a wider campaign against the government.

"This is just the beginning, and in the next phase, TTAP may appeal to all its workers and political parties to be ready for a Jail Bharo movement," he said.

TTAP has already called for a nationwide strike on February 8 to mark the second anniversary of what it claims were rigged elections, observing it as a "Black Day".

The development comes amid recent efforts aimed at opening dialogue between the government and opposition parties.

"We waited after the bluff dialogue call from the government, but there hasn't been any contact from their side. We cannot just sit and do nothing; we have no other way except fighting against oppression," TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousufzai told The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, JUI-F also declared February 8 a Black Day against what it described as the controversial and worst rigged general elections of 2024.

JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said nationwide protests would be held on February 8, with a central gathering in Rawalpindi where the party chief would address participants. He added that full-scale protests would also be organised at all provincial headquarters.

Asked whether JUI-F would join TTAP for February 8 protests, Ghauri told The Express Tribune: "We have been part of the opposition, but not once has PTI or TTAP taken us into trust regarding February 8 protests. We are doing our protest separately so far."

"We want them to come and sit with us so that we can discuss together for the supremacy of the Constitution. We have already endured hardships for the Constitution's supremacy even during Zia's era we faced beatings. So, if they contact us, then it can be considered how to take the protest forward," he added.

Ghauri also slammed the government, saying it not only needed to answer for the rigged elections but also for issues related to the Trump Peace Board, and that it must be stopped from making laws that go against the Quran and Sunnah.

He criticised Achakzai's announcement regarding the Jail Bharo Tehreek (court arrest movement), saying PTI could launch as many campaigns as it wanted - whether court arrest drive or otherwise - but that ultimately talks would have to take place.

"Whoever is at the table, the discussion has to happen at the table."

TTAP, on the other hand, welcomed JUI-F's announcement of a protest call. "We welcome this announcement. We will meet with all political parties in the coming days to coordinate and try to convince them to protest from a single platform," the alliance spokesperson said.