ISLAMABAD:
Major opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), are preparing for protests on February 8 to mark the second anniversary of the general elections, but a unified opposition front appears elusive as key parties announced separate agitation plans on Monday.
Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), a large opposition alliance in which the PTI is a major player, held a meeting in Islamabad with its boss and leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, in the chair.
The meeting was called to refine the strategy for the February 8 protest. On the other hand, Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (F) also revealed its plans for the day.
What emerged from Monday’s events was that TTAP appears to have opted for a one-day protest rather than a prolonged anti-government campaign, lending weight to reports that Achakzai’s notification as opposition leader in the lower house may distance the PTI from disruption politics.
After chairing the meeting, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) president confirmed to reporters that the February 8 protest would be a one-day affair.
“The public is only asked to cooperate peacefully 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 a confrontation with the government.
The TTAP chief said the protest call would include a “full shutdown strike” on February 8, adding that the opposition alliance would begin communicating with traders, transporters and other interested parties to cooperate.
While TTAP has no plans to launch a prolonged protest on February 8, Achakzai hinted at the possibility of a broader campaign against the government.
“This is just the beginning, and in the next phase, TTAP can appeal to all its workers and political parties to be prepared for a Jail Bharo movement,” he said.
TTAP has already called a national strike on February 8 to mark the second anniversary of what it claims was a rigged election, calling it a “Black Day.”
The development comes amid recent efforts aimed at opening dialogue between the government and opposition parties.
“We waited after the government’s misleading call for dialogue, but there has been no contact from them. We cannot just sit back and do nothing; we have no other way but to fight oppression,” TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousufzai told The Express PAkGazette.
Meanwhile, JUI-F also declared February 8 as Black Day against what it described as the controversial and worst 2024 general elections.
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said nationwide protests would take place on February 8, with a central meeting in Rawalpindi where the party chief would address participants. He added that large-scale protests will also be organized in all provincial headquarters.
When asked if JUI-F would join hands with TTAP for the February 8 protests, Ghauri told The Express PAkGazette: “We have been part of the opposition, but not once have PTI or TTAP trusted us regarding the February 8 protests. So far we are doing our protest separately.”
“We want you to come and sit with us so that we can discuss the supremacy of the Constitution together. We have already endured hardships for the supremacy of the Constitution, even during the Zia era, we suffered beatings. So, if you contact us, then we can consider how to carry out the protest,” he added.
Ghauri also criticized the government, saying it not only needed to answer for the rigged election but also for issues related to Trump’s Peace Board, and that it should be prevented from issuing laws that go against the Quran and Sunnah.
He criticized Achakzai’s announcement on the Jail Bharo Tehreek (judicial arrest movement), saying that the PTI could launch as many campaigns as it wanted, be it a judicial arrest campaign 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.
