Opposition Alliance Plans Nationwide Campaign Launch

In Quetta, following a lengthy meeting that lasted into early Saturday, PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan declared the launch of a nationwide movement for the rule of law, spearheaded by the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) coalition of six opposition parties. The campaign begins with a public gathering in Pishin today, aiming to rally support from various societal sectors, including universities and bar associations, against the current PML-N-led government.

Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has been unanimously appointed as the president of the coalition. The alliance’s creation stems from alleged severe election manipulations on February 8, which they claim undermine the constitution and the rule of law.

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The meeting saw participation from leaders of various political parties, including BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Sunni Ittehad Council’s Sahibzada Hamid Raza Khan, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen’s Raja Nasir Abbas, and Jamaat-i-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch, all of whom voiced opposition to any political involvement by the military and stressed the constitutional mandate of their movement.

The leaders condemned recent hikes in gas and electricity prices, criticized the poor investment climate and growing unemployment, and outlined their plan to invoke public and political support across Pakistan, starting with Balochistan. They emphasized the necessity of restoring law and order to ensure public confidence and attract investments.

Omar Ayub criticized the handling of the election results, which he claimed initially showed a PTI majority that was later overturned by electoral manipulations. He expressed the coalition’s commitment to continuing protests until the true electoral mandate is acknowledged. The PTI also reaffirmed its focus on regional development, particularly in Balochistan, lamenting the halt of development projects following the political shift in April 2022.