Opposition parties describe fair polls as solution to all ills

Authorities made serious efforts to stop their conference, allege TTAP leaders

STATE OF THE NATION

Feb 28, 2025

DESPITE serious hurdles allegedly created by authorities in organising a conference, the opposition alliance called Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aayeen Pakistan (TTAP) not only managed to conclude one in Islamabad but also managed to issue a joint declaration which called for free and fair elections.

The two-day conference ended on Thursday with the declaration that free and fair elections, coupled with upholding of the Constitution and rule of law, could ease the crises facing the nation.

The conference began on Wednesday at the Legend Hotel, where opposition parties gathered to discuss issues related to constitutional breaches, human rights violations, freedom of speech, and political instability in the country. The opposition had alleged then that the government wanted to scuttle the conference by threatening to revoke the hotel’s registration.

However, the conference continued for two days at the same venue, and the TTAP leaders claimed that the obstacles created by the government only helped amplify their event at the national and international levels.

According to Sheikh Waqas Akram, the spokesperson for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), although Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party was not part of the alliance but the party’s Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri did attend the conference. He hoped the conference would pave the way for a movement against the federal government after Ramazan.

PTI leader Asad Qaiser termed the conference an attempt to restore democracy. “It was a lawful activity, but the management of the hotel was threatened that not only a fine of Rs10 million would be imposed (on them) but the hotel would be sealed.” However, we managed to complete the event, he added.

Those who attended the conference on Thursday included former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Omar Ayub, and Salman Akram Raja. A heavy contingent of Frontier Constabulary and police was deputed outside the hotel.

 Joint declaration

According to the joint statement issued after the conference, the opposition parties agreed that the solution to the country’s problems lay only in the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. They also agreed that elections held on February 8 last year were responsible for the country’s current political, economic, and social crises.

The opposition leaders also suggested that the government should stop violating the constitution and human rights, as it was nothing but evidence of fascism. According to the opposition leaders, the issues of the country could only be solved through a free and fair election. They vowed to continue their struggle to implement the declaration and effectively address all the problems facing the nation.

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