Opposition demands fresh elections in Pakistan, plans nation
Opposition demands fresh elections in Pakistan, plans nationwide protests on February 8
Posing a fresh challenge to the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTI has announced anti-government protest rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swabi, Peshawar and Lahore, stating that 'Black Day' will be observed across the country on February 8
ISLAMABAD — A strong opposition alliance is emerging as Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gets ready to hold nationwide protests on February 8, the
first anniversary of last year's "rigged" general election in the
country.
Posing a fresh challenge to the government led by Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PTI has announced anti-government protest rallies in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swabi, Peshawar and Lahore, stating that 'Black Day' will
be observed across the country on February 8.
PTI claims that it was on February 8 in 2024 that the
will of the people and their support for party founder and former Prime
Minister Imran Khan was bulldozed by the country's military establishment.
As per sources in the party, there are plans to launch a
massive anti-government campaign across the country on the day with a fresh
call to release Khan and other political prisoners who PTI claims have been
falsely accused of being involved in May 9, 2023 riots and other cases.
The opposition parties, demanding an immediate
dissolution of assemblies and announcement of fresh elections, have begun
strategising their next move and challenge the "authenticity" of the
ruling government.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Fazl-ur-Rehman,
along with the top PTI leadership and other parties, is pressing Shehbaz Sharif
to step down and announce fresh elections.
On Tuesday, PTI leader and former National Assembly
Speaker Asad Qaiser hosted dinner for opposition leaders where a joint call was
made for holding early elections in the country as it was asserted that the
present government has come into power through rigged elections and illegal
practices during the general polls.
"The current government no longer represents the
people of Pakistan," said Qaiser.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who served as 18th Prime Minister
of Pakistan (2017-2018), also called for joint efforts to "protect
constitutional rights" of the people of Pakistan.
"Opposition parties have reached a consensus during
the meeting to demand fresh elections and release political prisoners",
said Abbasi, a former senior member of Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim
League–Nawaz (PML-N) who now heads the Awaam Pakistan Party (APA).
The leaders, who held a joint press conference, called
for an end to what they termed as "fascism".
Experts reckon that challenging times lie ahead of the
ruling coalition as its main ally, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), is also
unhappy with the government's performance.
"I think that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N
founder Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryum Nawaz Sharif would come under immense
pressure in the coming days as the coalition is weakening and the opposition
alliance is getting stronger. If it becomes as strong as it was during Imran
Khan's tenure then we may see early elections happening in Pakistan," said
political analyst Jamal Khurshid.
