Latest news with #MahmoodKhanAchakzai
Arab News
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistani opposition alliance says government trying to ‘eliminate' rivals, calls for joint strategy
ISLAMABAD: A coalition of prominent Pakistani opposition leaders on Friday called for a unified political strategy to address what they described as a systematic effort to eliminate dissent, condemning recent convictions related to the May 9, 2023, riots and rejecting the legitimacy of the 2024 general elections. The two-day multiparty conference was convened by the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) — or Movement for the Protection of Pakistan's Constitution — a newly formed alliance of politicians, lawyers and civil society leaders advocating for constitutional supremacy and civilian rule. Established earlier this year, TTAP is chaired by veteran Pashtun leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and held its gathering in Islamabad at the residence of former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who said the capital administration had attempted to block the event by sealing off its original venue. 'There is a clear attempt to eliminate the opposition in this country,' Khokhar said toward the end of the gathering, adding: 'All parties at the conference unanimously agreed that a comprehensive and joint strategy is urgently needed to steer the country out of this crisis.' The conference condemned the convictions handed down to the leaders and supporters of the country's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party over their alleged role in the May 9 unrest. The protests, triggered by Khan's brief detention by paramilitary rangers on corruption charges, turned violent, with attacks on military installations across the country. An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan convicted the leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly and Senate on charges of being involved in the unrest, though the PTI has frequently described such cases and convictions as politically motivated. The government, however, said all those who were sentenced were given fair trials within the legal and constitutional framework. 'Fair trials were conducted in the May 9 cases in accordance with the law,' Information Minister Ata Tarar asserted in a televised statement following the opposition alliance's news conference. 'The proceedings lasted two full years, during which the prosecution presented its arguments and evidence.' The multiparty conference participants also denounced the imprisonment of Khan and his wife, Bushra Imran, and demanded their immediate release. The declaration agreed at the gathering also accused the government of 'fascism and political victimization' and rejected the outcome of the 2024 elections as fraudulent. It also called for repealing the 26th Amendment, which curtailed judicial autonomy by expanding parliamentary oversight of appointments, saying it had undermined judicial independence in Pakistan, and expressed solidarity with six Islamabad High Court judges who had spoken out against institutional interference. Tarar, however, dismissed the opposition's assertions, saying the participants of the conference 'had neither arguments nor facts.' 'Whenever a foreign visit to Pakistan is about to begin, especially by a foreign head of state, such actions are taken to sabotage it and damage the country's economy,' he added, noting that the conference came just ahead of the Iranian president's visit to Pakistan on Saturday.
Express Tribune
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Opposition calls APC on July 31-Aug 1
An alliance of opposition parties — Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain — has announced a two-day all parties conference (APC), which will be held in Islamabad on July 31 and August 1 as part of its professed struggle to ensure the supremacy of the Constitution and law. "We will hold an APC and invite people from state institutions as well. We will step out for the sake of this country. Whatever issue concerns any section of society, we will support it unconditionally," said head of the alliance, Mahmood Khan Achakzai during a press conference in Islamabad. Achakzai, who is also the chief of the PkMAP, claimed that the opposition's alliance is the first political alliance not formed at the behest of any institution. It is also not created for spectacle or drama, he added. According to the politician, the alliance would continue until the country has a truly impartial polls oversight authority, supremacy of the Constitution, and a parliament that is the true source of power. Referring to former prime minister Imran Khan, he said the leader of the party that won the general elections of February 8 was jailed and a government was formed by terrorizing the people. This is an insult to governance, he added. Achakzai claimed that anti-terrorism courts (ATC) sentenced both adults and minors to ten years in prison in the May 9 cases. "We will go from street to street and alley to alley in protest against this government. We will protest from Gilgit-Baltistan to Gwadar, but we will neither use abusive language nor violence," he said. PTI's Salman Akram Raja also addressed the media, stating that the country needed to be set on the right path as it could not be run through the use of force. "Our movement for the protection of the Constitution' is constitutional and ideological. We do not intend violence. No one should use this movement as a pretext to impose more repression. Our people have been punished solely because they were affiliated with the PTI," he said.
Business Recorder
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Unity government: Achakzai offers to hold talks with PM
ISLAMABAD: Mahmood Khan Achakzai, leader of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) and chairman of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), on Thursday offered to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the formation of a 'unity government' amid what he described as a deepening political and constitutional crisis in the country. Speaking at a presser, Achakzai said that he was prepared to engage with the prime minister solely on the issue of forming a national unity government to steer the country out of the prevalent economic and political crisis. 'Talks with this government are not possible except on the issue of forming a national government. This is not the time to hurl insults at each other as we need unity right now,' he declared. His remarks come days after the Supreme Court, in a 7-5 majority ruling, accepted review petitions that stripped Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of its entitlement to seats reserved for women and minorities in both national and provincial assemblies. The decision led to the reallocation of nearly 80 seats to other parliamentary parties. Achakzai criticised the apex court's verdict, describing it as a sign of the broader erosion of democratic values in the country. 'Political parties have begged for seats instead of upholding democratic principles,' he lamented. He accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the judiciary of undermining the 2024 general elections, alleging these institutions manipulated the process to disadvantage PTI. Achakzai said the party's electoral symbol was unjustly revoked and condemned the treatment of its lawmakers and supporters. 'We may have differences with Imran Khan, but the treatment meted out to his party is unjust,' he said, adding that PTI lawmakers and their families were barred from visiting detained members outside Adiala Jail. Recalling the arrests of opposition lawmakers within the premises of parliament last year, Achakzai accused the National Assembly Speaker of bias, accusing him of remaining a silent spectator while such actions took place. He criticised the Speaker's assertion that spy agencies have the authority to tap anyone's calls, describing his silence on the issue as criminal negligence. He urged the Speaker to either fulfil his responsibilities as custodian of the House or consider stepping down. On foreign policy, he denounced Israeli actions in Gaza and called for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be declared a global terrorist for the killing of Palestinians. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Achakzai slams divvying up of PTI's reserved seats
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Thursday criticised the Constitutional Bench verdict in the reserved seats review case, saying that divvying up the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) reserved seats to other parties made a mockery of the vote. Speaking at a news conference in Islamabad, Achakzai said that the government was violating the Constitution, destroying the judiciary and disrespecting the people's mandate. The court decision, he said, deprived the PTI of its share in the reserved seats. "We believe in the supremacy of the Constitution and the law. But here people are being enslaved," Achakzai said. "Today, the Constitution is being disrespected. Now the PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz] and the PPP [Pakistan Peoples Party] are undermining the spirit of the Constitution." The PkMAP chief said that he might have many differences with the PTI, but still he believed that the party faced great injustices. He claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) acted in a biased manner, while the Supreme Court snatched its electoral symbol of bat. He charged that the current government also lacked credibility because it was formed at "gunpoint". He also accused National Assembly speaker of being biased. He said that remaining silent in these circumstances would be tantamount to "criminal negligence".
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Achakzai warns of proxy war fallout
Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai has raised alarm over rising tensions in the Middle East, particularly between Iran and Israel, warning of serious repercussions for Pakistan. Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, the veteran politician and head of the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan urged the nation to avoid becoming entangled in external conflicts, stating, "Proxy wars are returning to our region - and we must wake up before it's too late." Achakzai lamented Pakistan's long-standing constitutional challenges, recalling how there were initially deliberate delays in drafting a constitution. Once established, he said, the constitution was systematically undermined. He painted a grim picture of the country's present state, describing it as mired in a deep political, constitutional, and economic crisis. The remarks came following a two-day meeting of the PkMAP's Central Executive and Working Committees. Achakzai accused the current government of lacking legitimacy, stating that the public mandate had been stolen and that the Constitution was being openly violated. "If this government remains in power, it will inflict irreparable damage on the country," he warned. Citing a recent World Bank report, Achakzai noted that more than 45 percent of Pakistan's population now lives below the poverty line. He criticized the disproportionate allocation of the national budget towards debt servicing and defense, at the expense of public welfare. The PkMAP chief further denounced the judiciary, media, and ruling elites for failing to safeguard democratic principles, and proposed the seizure of illegal assets from public officials to help offset national debt. Achakzai reiterated his demand for the immediate release of PTI founder Imran Khan and other political detainees.
