Achakzai opposition street protests warning issued in Peshawar
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Tuesday warned of opposition street protests if the courts fail to address the opposition’s concerns, saying the final phase of its struggle against the government had begun.
“We want decisions to be made in courts. If that does not happen, matters will move to the streets,” the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief said, calling for peaceful protests against the government.
He was speaking to reporters outside the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Constitution, K-P and the courts
Achakzai said the 1973 Constitution had been drafted with great difficulty and recalled that Article 58(2) had led to the dissolution of four assemblies. He said the opposition had no enmity with either Nawaz Sharif or Asif Ali Zardari.
He said the K-P chief minister represented 40 million people and had been ridiculed. The remark refers to Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, whose detention and whereabouts have already drawn a PHC notice to the K-P government and a demand in the National Assembly by Achakzai himself.
France protests cited as example
Referring to protests against inflation in France, Achakzai said millions of people had taken to the streets and set things on fire, but the French police had not fired a single bullet.
“We will also have to stage peaceful protests against this government,” he said, adding that the final phase of the struggle had begun.
PTI backs the warning
Speaking on the occasion, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said the PTI had challenged both the emergency and the governor’s rule in K-P, alleging that the measures were undemocratic and unconstitutional.
He said the mistreatment of party workers was continuing, adding that the party had always described terrorism as a menace and consistently supported the federal government in the fight against it.
“We had our own government, and our mandate was snatched away,” Gohar said.
He alleged that 12 PTI members of the National Assembly and 14 members of the provincial assembly had been picked up, claiming that raids were being conducted at party members’ homes and that they were being harassed. He said the office of a District Development Advisory Committee chairman had been demolished and plaques had been removed.
The wider standoff over K-P
The warning deepens an already tense standoff. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has suggested a ban on PTI may no longer be needed after governor’s rule, the PHC has issued notices on petitions against the measure, and lawyers have boycotted K-P courts over the governor’s rule. The PTI core committee itself remains split over its future course of action.
Source: The Express Tribune
FAQs
What did Mahmood Khan Achakzai say?
The opposition leader warned that if the courts do not address the opposition’s concerns, “matters will move to the streets”, calling for peaceful protests against the government.
Where did he make the remarks?
He spoke to reporters outside the Peshawar High Court on Tuesday.
What is the opposition protesting?
The K-P emergency and governor’s rule, which the PTI has challenged as undemocratic and unconstitutional, along with the detention of K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and alleged harassment of party workers.
