Shafaqna Pakistan: The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Tuesday announced nationwide protests to be held on Friday against rising inflation, increased fuel prices, alleged lawlessness, and the continued detention of former prime minister Imran Khan.
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser, while speaking to the media outside Parliament House alongside other party leaders, said the parliamentary party had been briefed on the future strategy and had fully endorsed the alliance’s four-point agenda.
“We have decided to hold protests across the country this Friday over inflation, the massive increase in petroleum prices, severe loadshedding, particularly the law and order situation, and the inhumane treatment being meted out to Imran Khan, including the denial of his civil rights and the government’s negligence regarding his health,” Asad Qaiser said.
He also described the lack of quorum in parliament as evidence of the government’s non-serious approach and warned that if the situation continued, “we will not allow this parliament to function.”
He claimed that the government was planning to impose Rs17 trillion in new taxes in the upcoming budget, which would trigger a new wave of inflation.
“At present, all tax collection is being carried out on salaried employees, and you can see that farmers, labourers and the salaried class have been affected by the economic policies, while the middle class has virtually been eliminated,” he said, blaming the government’s failed policies for the situation.
Expressing concern over the state of justice in the country, the former National Assembly speaker said severe human rights violations were taking place and alleged that the treatment being meted out to PTI leaders in jail, including Imran and Shah Mahmood Qureshi, amounted to serious human rights abuses.
“We believe Imran Khan should get justice, and if all the cases against him are heard on merit, Imran Khan will not remain in jail for even a single day, nor will his wife or the party leadership,” he said.
The PTI leader termed the government’s policies a complete failure and expressed concern about the country’s security situation, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“In my province, we are facing a serious challenge of terrorism, and that terrorism is the result of an irresponsible foreign policy, due to which terrorism is increasing and unemployment is rising because our businesses are heavily linked with trade with Afghanistan,” he said.
He demanded an end to what he termed the unfair treatment of Imran, saying he should be provided justice, his cases should be heard on merit, and, according to jail rules, he should be shifted to a hospital.
Qaiser also demanded that the government withdraw the petroleum levy and end severe loadshedding across the country, particularly in K-P.
TTAP chief and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai earlier said in a post on X that the decision for the protests was taken at an alliance leadership summit.
He said the demonstrations would also demand the immediate transfer of Imran to the hospital and the release of political prisoners.
In February, it was revealed in a report prepared by Barrister Salman Safdar on the Supreme Court’s direction that Imran had informed officials that his right eye was functioning at only 15% capacity. Safdar submitted the report to a two-member bench.
As a result, the SC ordered that Imran be granted access to his personal physicians in Adiala Jail. Later, a medical board examining Imran reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend shifting him to a hospital.
Source: Express Tribune
