RAWALPINDI: Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the leader of the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aeen Pakistan, has made it clear that he is open to negotiations with the government, but on the condition that the discussions focus on the dissolution of the current parliament.
He also announced a nationwide protest for February 8, demanding the restoration of democratic processes and the holding of free and fair elections.
In a media talk in Rawalpindi, Achakzai stated that the results of the February 8 election were manipulated with the winners being defeated and the losers being declared victorious.
“If anyone wants to talk starting from February 8, we are ready,” he said, adding that the negotiations should center around dissolving the current parliament.
Achakzai said the opposition was not against any individual but aimed to strengthen the military in a manner similar to the armed forces of other countries. He warned that the region is on the brink of becoming a battlefield and noted the recent instance where a country’s leader was forcibly removed from his home, along with his wife.
The opposition leader stated that political parties’ survival depends on upholding the constitution, and the negotiations should focus on restoring the supremacy of the parliament. He also called for the formation of an interim government to appoint a new election commissioner and ensure the holding of elections.
As part of their protest campaign, Achakzai announced that workers from across Pakistan would join the demonstration, including traders, rickshaw drivers, and trade unions. “Our demand is for the reconstruction of a democratic Pakistan,” he said.
