TTAP announces countrywide protest from August 5

Opposition alliance cites political, security crises; seeks dialogue on Balochistan and AJK

ISLAMABAD:

The opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin Pakistan (TTAP), on Friday announced a nationwide protest movement from August 5 with rallies and a public outreach campaign over "a deteriorating political and security situation" across the country.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Opposition Leader in Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other alliance leaders.

The joint press conference was held following a consultative meeting a day earlier. They said that the campaign will begin on August 5, marking three years since former prime minister Imran Khan's conviction. The schedule of the protests would be announced after further consultations with constituent parties.

The alliance demanded the immediate resignation of the Balochistan government, a joint session of parliament to discuss terrorism and the situations in Balochistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and postponement of the upcoming AJK elections pending dialogue among stakeholders.

It also demanded immediate release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other political prisoners. It also expressed concern over the trial of Aleema Khan, sister of Imran, which it described as political victimisation to Khan's family.

The alliance has prioritised the Balochistan issue, following recent violence in the province and would not ignore the situations in either Balochistan or AJK, Achakzai, who is also the head of TTAP, told the press conference.

Referring to the recent attack near Ziarat, Achakzai alleged that police personnel had been deployed with inadequate ammunition and that no official had been held accountable following the incident.

Khokhar said the alliance had finalised its demands after extensive consultations, arguing that immediate political engagement was needed to prevent further deterioration in Balochistan and AJK. He said the alliance supported postponing the AJK elections and urged the government to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Syed said that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had proposed during Thursday's consultative meeting that the opposition launch a nationwide protest campaign on August 5, marking three years since Imran Khan's conviction.

He added that the alliance was considering to hold either multiple events across the country or one major gathering, with the final schedule to be decided after further consultations.

Responding to a question about whether TTAP planned any action before August 5, Hussain said that Achakzai and other alliance leaders would visit Balochistan on Sunday (tomorrow) to meet protesters and assess the situation on the ground. He said the alliance would subsequently attempt to visit AJK after an earlier effort by its leaders to travel there was stopped.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram told The Express Tribune that the party was "exactly on the same page" as the TTAP regarding the protest movement and its demands.

Akram was also asked about an apparent contradiction, as the TTAP is calling for the postponement of the AJK elections, yet polling is scheduled for July 27, ahead of the nationwide movement's August 5 start, and what PTI/TTAP plans to do if the elections proceed as scheduled.

"We have boycotted the elections. We are not taking part in these elections," Waqas Akram replied, saying that the TTAP would decide its next course of action if the elections proceeded as scheduled.