Imran Khan Approves Grand Opposition Alliance, PTI Plans Big Rally in Swabi

Asad Qaiser, a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced on Thursday that Imran Khan has approved the formation of a ‘grand opposition alliance’ by expanding the existing platform Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP). This announcement was made ahead of a PTI rally set to take place next week in Swabi.

Speaking to reporters outside Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Qaiser, alongside PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan, stated, “PTI decides to expand the opposition alliance in a meeting with Imran Khan.” The PTI aims to gather all opposition parties to run an anti-government movement and raise a strong voice for the release of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan and other detained leaders.

Qaiser criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government over increasing electricity bills, calling them “unacceptable” for the inflation-hit masses. He also announced PTI’s support for Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) ongoing sit-in in Rawalpindi against the rise in power bills.

Omar Ayub Khan urged the public to participate in the Swabi rally on August 5 to show solidarity with Imran Khan and PTI. He criticized PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for attempting to create a divide between the military and the nation. He also called on Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq to recuse themselves from hearing Imran Khan’s cases.

Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on multiple charges. His wife, Bushra Bibi, has also been imprisoned. Despite some court decisions in their favor, new charges have prevented their release.

Omar Ayub Khan emphasized that the justice system should serve justice to Imran Khan. He also blamed the PML-N and PPP for the rising electricity bills due to their approval of expensive power plants and contracts with independent power producers.