The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is preparing for a large political rally next week. On Thursday, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser announced that Imran Khan, the party’s founder who is currently in jail, has approved the creation of a “grand opposition alliance.” This will expand the current platform, Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP).
Speaking outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Qaiser, along with PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan, said that the PTI aims to unite all opposition parties to form a strong anti-government movement. They plan to raise a “strong voice” for the release of Imran Khan and other detained leaders at their upcoming rally in Swabi.
Qaiser emphasized that the country should be governed by law and the Constitution. He criticized the government for the high electricity bills, which he said are unacceptable for people already struggling with high prices.
The PTI leader also expressed support for Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) ongoing protest in Rawalpindi against the rise in power bills.
Omar Ayub urged people to attend the Swabi rally on August 5 to show support for Imran Khan and the PTI. He also mentioned that during their meeting, Imran Khan condemned the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and criticized the West for not stopping Israel’s actions against Palestinians. Imran Khan called for international efforts to ensure peace in Palestine and end violence in Gaza.
Responding to criticism about Imran Khan wanting negotiations, Ayub said there were no discussions about this, but Imran emphasized that the military and the nation should not be divided. Ayub accused the ruling parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), of trying to create a divide between the military and the people.
Ayub also discussed the legal battles for Imran Khan’s release, blaming the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for keeping Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, in jail despite her not being connected to the Toshakhana case. He called for Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to step away from hearing Imran’s cases.
Imran Khan has been in jail for almost a year, facing multiple charges, including the Toshakhana case, cipher case, and an un-Islamic marriage case. Although some of his sentences have been suspended or overturned, new charges have kept him and his wife in jail.
Omar Ayub stressed that the justice system should be fair to Imran Khan, contrasting his situation with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to Pakistan after receiving an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) and when Justice Isa became the Chief Justice.
Ayub blamed the previous governments of PML-N and PPP for the high electricity bills, citing expensive power plants and contracts with independent power producers.
In response to PTI’s press conference, PML-N leader Talal Chaudhry stated that forming alliances will not save PTI from facing the law for their alleged wrongdoings. Chaudhry suggested that PTI should focus on public issues rather than attacking state institutions.
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