Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, the Senate Opposition Leader, declared on Saturday that only Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), holds the authority to defer the party’s nationwide protest scheduled for September 27. The protest, which includes a significant march towards Islamabad, aims to demand Khan’s release and rally support for constitutional supremacy.
Support from Opposition Alliance
The Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance, with Abbas as a prominent figure, has pledged its backing for PTI’s protest. Abbas communicated via his social media account that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had approached him, and it was made clear that only Imran Khan could decide to delay the demonstration.
TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousufzai noted that a meeting was convened on September 14 at Naqvi’s behest, attended by Abbas and PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan. During a press briefing, Abbas emphasized that any decision about postponing the march rests solely with Khan, stating, “Imran Khan cannot be excluded, and no resolution can occur without his involvement.”
Press Conference Highlights
In his address, Abbas highlighted the pressing issues of providing basic amenities and safeguarding constitutional rights. He cited a senior federal minister’s admission of systemic collapse. TTAP leader and former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair criticized the disparity between the elite’s lifestyle and the economic struggles of ordinary citizens, noting increases in poverty, unemployment, and inflation over recent years.
PTI’s former KP finance minister, Taimur Saleem Jhagra, lambasted government spending, questioning the purchase of a jet for Rs10 billion and other expenditures amidst rising fuel costs. He stressed the need for accountability in public spending.
Government’s Response
Following the meeting, Interior Minister Naqvi announced that the government would prevent any march towards Islamabad by all means necessary. He warned of legal actions against those defying the Islamabad High Court’s ruling, which deemed any activity infringing on citizens’ rights as unconstitutional.
The court’s judgment affirmed the right to protest within the bounds of the Constitution and law.
Preparations and Meetings
Earlier in the day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met with Abbas and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai to discuss the planned protest. According to TTAP, they engaged in “important political consultations” about the September 27 call, formulating strategies to advance the democratic struggle effectively.
The trio had previously met after Afridi’s Punjab visit, where they discussed the protest and Afridi’s controversial claims of abduction and threats during his visit. The Punjab government refuted these claims, clarifying the involvement of a police constable.
Preparations by Rawalpindi and Islamabad’s administrations include measures to counter the march, such as detaining activists, arranging containers, and acquiring anti-riot equipment.
