KARACHI: The Grand Opposition Alliance, founded by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and other major opposition parties, planned an anti-government protest following Eid-ul-Fitr.
According to reports, the newly established opposition alliance—which includes the Sunni Ittehad Council, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Majlis-e-Wadhat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), and Balochistan National Party (BNP)—will have its first unified public meeting in Quetta on April 14.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also hinted at joining the opposition alliance, with Liaquat Baloch stating that his party will make a definite statement following Majlis Shura approval.
The Grand Opposition Alliance would also stage public protests around the country against’massive’ election tampering. The timetable for public events in additional cities will be published later after consultation with all parties.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the Moulana Fazal-ur-Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) would also be contacted to join the opposition in the anti-government campaign.
BNP Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has been charged with contacting Moulana Fazal-ur-Rehman and the Jiye Sindh Party. The Grand Opposition Alliance would lead the campaign under the banner of ‘non-interference in politics, an independent judiciary, rule of law, and people’s supremacy’.
Earlier in the day, six main opposition groups, including the PTI, met and discussed forging a ‘grand opposition coalition’ to give the government a ‘difficult’ time.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch, and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) president Mehmood Achackzai all attended the meeting.
Allama Nasir Abbas of the Majlis-e-Wadhat-e-Muslimeen (MWM), Sardar Akhtar Mengal of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Omar Ayub, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, and Asad Qaiser were also in attendance.
According to a press release issued during the conference, all parties present opposed the’manipulation’ of the outcome of the 2024 general elections.
“The false government was reinforced, and the unelected people were given a fake mandate. All forms of political meddling should be halted immediately. The declaration stated that all institutions must conform to their respective constitutional constraints.
Maria Ghanchi