Demands access to PTI founder; condemns police action against party leaders, workers and Imran’s family members
ISLAMABAD:
An opposition parties’ alliance — the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) — is going to hold a consultative conference in Islamabad on December 20-21 to discuss the political climate, constitutional matters, and restrictions imposed on visitors to meet PTI’s jailed founder Imran Khan.
Opposition parties, bar councils, and human rights organisations will be invited to the conference.
The TTAP leaders made this announcement after an emergency meeting of the alliance called in the wake a police action against PTI leaders, workers and Imran Khan’s family members outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in the wee hours of Wednesday.
Authorities allegedly used water cannons to disperse protesters, including the sisters of Imran Khan, who were staging a sit-in outside Adiala jail after being denied a meeting with the ex-premier.
In a post on X, the party said, “Pakistani authorities used water cannons to disperse Imran Khan’s sisters and peaceful PTI workers outside Adiala Jail, despite a court order allowing a meeting with the jailed former PM.
“This brutal crackdown on a peaceful sit-in violates basic human rights and freedom of assembly in freezing weather!” It also shared a video of a water cannon being used as people, bundled up against the cold, fled the scene.
The meeting, chaired by TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, condemned the police action, terming it a violation of court orders on visitation rights. It demanded that the government restore meeting access to Imran Khan before any talks could proceed.
Later addressing a joint press conference, Achakzai said the way the government treated PTI leaders, supporters and family members of Imran showed that the Constitution was no longer functioning.
He said if the government intended to hold dialogue with the opposition, it must restore access to the PTI founder first. “When public anger erupts, nothing remains in control,” he warned.
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the PTI remained in parliament despite election mandate issues, but threats and confrontation had increased.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar reiterated his party’s allegations that their “mandate had been stolen” in the last general elections.
“We did not stage a sit-in back then […] We sat in parliament, believing that our voices will be heard, and a solution to our and the people’s difficulties will be found,” he said, adding that there had been multiple confrontations during the last two years.
But, he continued, “at some point, common sense should prevail”.
Seemingly referring to the bar on meetings with incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, he added: “If you keep parents in jail, […] how can the children sit together with you? And if you don’t understand this, then probably the public will make you understand.”
He again stressed that the use of force would not yield any results. “Common sense should prevail.”
Without naming anyone, he said: “If you want to create distance between [Imran] Khan and the people, this is not possible.” In this connection, he also claimed that Imran had the support of at least 70 per cent people in the country.
“Don’t enrage the people of Pakistan,” he warned, adding that “we haven’t done anything in violation of the Constitution”.
He emphasised that meetings with Imran should be allowed, pointing out that the high court had also issued an order, directing that meetings with the former prime minister be permitted.
“If you create hurdles [in this regard], then we don’t know what your intentions are. But if you get a response from the other side, the country and democracy would suffer a loss,” he warned, adding that whether the government did not want the PTI to sit in Parliament.
He also spoke to the media earlier in the day, objecting to the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday.
The government, he said, was attempting to “pitch federating units against each other.”
“You are isolating a major political party. Does removing them from due process save democracy?” the PTI chairman asked.
He criticised the suspension of meetings with Imran based on PTI’s social media posts, questioning why people were not allowed to meet even Imran’s spouse Bushra Bibi, who is also detained at the same facility.
PTI’s Asad Qaiser noted that the incident showed that there is no government in the country and only fascism is reigning supreme. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the Adiala incident.
PTI’s Aamir Dogar also condemned the police action, alleging that they used chemical-mixed water on PTI lawmakers. He said a privilege motion would be filed in parliament. Junaid Akbar Khan also spoke on the occasion and questioned the justification of restricting visits over social media posts.
The PTI, he said, had also been deprived of electoral symbols and reserved seats and that such oppressive measures were increasing public resentment and damaging institutional credibility.
Earlier, a PTI statement called the incident “state-backed violence” and alleged that peaceful supporters — including women — were targeted with excessive force.
The party claimed that media crews were pushed back to prevent coverage and that several workers sustained injuries. Earlier speaking outside parliament, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan warned that ongoing restrictions could escalate tensions.
