Islamabad, February 26, 2025 – The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting against “unconstitutional and undemocratic forces” in the country, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Grand Alliance Conference’s first day, Achakzai asserted that the opposition would continue its struggle “in a democratic manner.” The conference will resume tomorrow.
“We will continue this sacred battle against unconstitutional and undemocratic forces through democratic means,” Achakzai told journalists in Islamabad, accompanied by other opposition leaders.
The Grand Alliance Conference was attended by key opposition figures, including PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Awam Pakistan’s Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and MWM’s Nasir Shirazi
Speaking to the media, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accused the government of pressuring the administration of an Islamabad hotel to revoke permission for the second day of the conference.
“We have been trying to hold this conference for the past month. When we initially planned to use a marquee, we were told it wasn’t possible because cricket teams pass by the venue,” he claimed.
Abbasi maintained that the conference agenda did not contain anything against the state or any incitement to violence.
“We were simply discussing the Constitution and the rule of law. If the government is afraid of a single conference, it only exposes their insecurities,” he said.
He further revealed that the hotel administration had informed them they were being threatened to withdraw permission for the event but refused to provide a written explanation for the decision.
“Despite these hurdles, we have decided that the conference will go ahead tomorrow. This is our constitutional right,” Abbasi asserted.
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, also condemned the alleged threats to the hotel administration, calling it a sign of the deteriorating rule of law in the country.
“We are gathered here to talk about strengthening Pakistan, yet the authorities are pressuring a hotel for simply hosting a discussion on democracy,” Ayub remarked.
The conference takes place against the backdrop of failed negotiations between PTI and the ruling coalition, which collapsed after multiple rounds of talks. In response, PTI has launched a contact drive under Imran Khan’s directives, engaging with opposition groups across provinces.
In Sindh, TTAP leaders recently met with the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), with both sides agreeing to work together for constitutional supremacy and judicial independence. The two groups also decided to form committees to advance their common agenda.
‘Pakistanis Deprived of Being Stakeholders in Governance’
Addressing the conference, TTAP chief Achakzai underscored the fundamental human right to participate in governance, lamenting that many Pakistanis had been excluded from decision-making processes.
“The benefits of independence have not trickled down to the grassroots. People have been deprived of their due share in governance,” he stated.
Achakzai criticized the tendency to brand those demanding their rights as traitors, citing his own experiences of political persecution.
“We have been imprisoned countless times, but we have never stood against Pakistan,” he asserted.
He also denounced the handling of the February 8 elections, calling it an unprecedented violation of constitutional principles.
“We seek the right to govern this country, and that right can only be achieved through the supremacy of the Constitution,” he declared.
Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi criticized the government for attempting to silence political discourse, stating that even a discussion on constitutional matters was being obstructed.
“The government is so fearful that even a conference on the Constitution is seen as a threat,” he remarked.
Abbasi also criticized his former party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), for imposing restrictions on political expression.
“When political parties abandon their principles, nations cannot function,” he warned.
He further condemned recent legal amendments aimed at curbing dissent, stating that justice in the country was being compromised.
“It is unfortunate that even speaking out has become difficult in Pakistan. Without democracy and respect for public opinion, the country will not progress,” Abbasi concluded.
