Achakzai-led alliance not to be part of PTI protest

ISLAMABAD: Veteran politician Mehmood Khan Achakzai-led opposition alliance has chosen not to become a part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s November 24 protest, having reservations about its timing and mode of protest.

Sources in the alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan, and PTI told The News that the Tehreek leadership has a different viewpoint as it wants a consensus date for protest and a different mode of protest. Therefore, the alliance leadership, including Achakzai, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, has maintained silence over PTI’s ‘solo flight’. They wanted that all the opposition parties, including Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s JUIF, should be a part of any movement for restoration of democracy, the Constitution and an independent parliament.

Likewise, the opposition leaders feel that the protest should be started from across the country with full preparation and mobilisation, and after a momentum is built, only then, if a meaningful dialogue offer is made, it should be accepted. Otherwise, a date for a peaceful long march towards Islamabad could be announced as the last option. Sources said that PTI’s sudden announcement of protest and straight away marching on the federal capital might not be result-oriented and turn out to be a political setback to the opposition.

It was learnt that after the announcement of November 24 protest, PTI founder chairman Imran Khan had asked the party leadership to take the opposition alliance on board. “Unlike previous occasions in recent times, the opposition leadership chose not to attend the PTI protest after having been formally intimated about it,” sources said.

When PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram was contacted, his terse reply was, “It is our party’s decision to protest”.

He chose not to answer when asked why the opposition alliance leadership was not interested in participating in their protest despite having actively attended their public meetings and rallies.