The Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Tuesday announced nationwide protests on Friday (May 22) against rising inflation and sharp increases in petroleum prices.
In a statement on X, TTAP Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai said the protests would also demand the immediate transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan to hospital for treatment of his eye condition and the release of “political prisoners.”
The protest call was announced after a meeting of the opposition alliance’s leadership over what they termed worsening economic conditions, lawlessness and political repression.
Addressing media outside Parliament House, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the meeting had taken several important decisions. He said the PTI’s parliamentary party had endorsed the four-point agenda of the opposition alliance and assured full implementation of its decisions.
According to Qaiser, the opposition has decided to block the passage of the upcoming federal budget, reiterating his party’s view that Parliament has become ineffective and opposition voices have been suppressed. He also criticized the detention of “political prisoners,” including lawyer Imaan Mazari, claiming they were being subjected to injustice.
The PTI leader said the opposition wanted all cases against former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be decided on merit, adding the party founder and his wife should both be shifted to hospital. “We seek justice, not a deal like Nawaz Sharif,” he said.
Qaiser also dubbed the government’s policy “incompetent” and lamented the shuttering of industries in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He demanded the withdrawal of recent increases to petroleum prices and called for an end to restrictions on flour, gas and CNG supplies.