As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) prepares for a major rally next week,
senior party leader Asad Qaiser announced on Thursday that imprisoned party
founder Imran Khan has approved the formation of a “grand opposition alliance”
by expanding the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) platform.
“PTI decides to expand the opposition alliance in meeting with Imran Khan,”
said Qaiser, a former National Assembly speaker, during a media address outside
Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail alongside the party’s Secretary-General Omar Ayub
Khan and others on Thursday.
Qaiser revealed that the former ruling party plans to unite all opposition parties
for a robust anti-government movement. He added that the upcoming power show
in Swabi aims to raise a “strong voice” for the release of Imran Khan and other
detained leaders.
“This country will only be governed in accordance with the law and the
Constitution,” he emphasised.
Qaiser also criticised the current government over rising electricity bills, calling
them “unacceptable” for the inflation-hit masses. He expressed PTI’s support for
Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) sit-in on Rawalpindi’s Murree Road, protesting against the
steep hike in power bills since July 26.
Ayub, speaking on the occasion, urged the public to attend the Swabi gathering
on August 5 in large numbers to show solidarity with the former prime minister
and PTI.
Ayub stated that during their meeting, Imran Khan strongly condemned the killing
of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and criticised the West for failing to stop
Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians. He called for the international community
to take effective steps to ensure peace in Palestine and end Israeli brutality in
Gaza.
Addressing criticism over PTI’s demand for negotiations, Ayub clarified that no
discussion took place regarding dialogue. However, Imran stressed that the
military belongs to the nation and vice versa. Ayub accused the ruling Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of trying to
create a rift between the military and the public.
On the legal battles surrounding Imran Khan, Ayub claimed they are fighting for
his release and accused the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of preventing
the release of former first lady Bushra Bibi, despite her having no involvement in
the Toshakhana case. He urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and
Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to recuse themselves from
hearing cases against the PTI founder.
Ayub criticised the justice system, demanding it serve justice to the PTI founder,
and alleged that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan after
“getting an NRO” once Justice Isa became the chief justice. He noted that Sharif
did not dare return when Umar Ata Bandial held the position.
Addressing a question about high electricity bills, Ayub blamed the former
PML-N and PPP governments for approving expensive power plants and signing
contracts with independent power producers (IPPs), leading to inflated bills.
Reacting to the press conference, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry dismissed the
PTI’s efforts, stating that forming alliances would not shield them from facing the
law for their alleged wrongdoings.
“Alliances would not save them from punishments,” Chaudhry remarked, advising
the PTI to focus on public issues rather than maligning state institutions.