PTI mulls expanding opposition alliance

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has allowed to form a grand opposition alliance by expanding the existing platform-Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP).

This was informed by the party leaders, Asad Qaiser and Omer Ayub outside Adyala Jail on Thursday. They were talking to media after meeting with Imran Khan in Jail.

Asad Qaiser said that PTI has decided to expand the opposition alliance in meeting with Imran Khan.

 “PTI would gather all opposition parties to run a powerful anti-government movement,” former national assembly speaker stated, saying that party's forthcoming power show in Swabi was aimed at raising a "strong voice" for the release of PTI founder and other detained leaders.

"This country will only be governed in accordance with the law and the Constitution," he emphasized.

During his address, Qaiser also censured the incumbent government over skyrocketing power bills, saying the bloated electricity bills were "unacceptable" for the inflation-hit masses.

Addressing at the moment, Omar Ayub appealed the public to attend the public gathering in Swabi on August 5 in large numbers from across the country to show solidarity with the ex-premier and the "most popular party".

In his initial remarks, the politico said that during the meeting, the former prime minister strongly condemned the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and expressed outrage over the West for doing nothing to stop Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians.

Imran also urged the international community to take effective steps to ensure peace in Palestine and stop Israeli brutalities in Gaza, said Omar.

Responding to criticism against the PTI founder for demanding negotiations, the politico said that they did not hold any discussion regarding the dialogue, however, he added that Imran made it clear that the military belongs to the nation and vice versa.

He further said that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were trying to drive a wedge between the military and the nation.

Regarding cases against the jailed ex-prime minister, the opposition leader said that they were fighting a legal battle for Imran's release. He blamed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for stopping the release of former first lady Bushra Bibi despite having no connections with the Toshakhana case.

The PTI secretary general demanded Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to recuse themselves from hearing the PTI founder's cases.

The 71-year-old PTI founding chairman has been in prison for almost a year after he was booked in a plethora of cases, including the Toshakhana, cipher, and the un-Islamic marriage. His wife, Bushra, has also been behind bars for months.

However, a court suspended his sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts overturned his convictions in the cipher and iddat cases, respectively.

While there were hopes for Imran and Bushra's release in July, they were dashed when NAB arrested them on fresh charges related to the sale of state gifts.

The chances of Imran's release from jail further dimmed after he was arrested in new cases linked to the May 9, 2023, riots, following his acquittal in the iddat case.

Referring to the unending cycle of Imran's release and detention, Ayub also stressed that the "justice system should serve justice to the PTI founder".