Pakistan's TTAP Ready for Major Demonstration in Islamabad

Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), an opposition alliance in Pakistan, is gearing up for a significant protest in Islamabad on August 22 to challenge the government. Led by Omar Ayub, the nationwide campaign aims to restore the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.

Pakistan's opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), is preparing for a major demonstration in Islamabad on August 22, aiming to challenge the government. Omar Ayub, opposition leader in the National Assembly and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Secretary General, announced the launch of a nationwide campaign to restore the Constitution and uphold the rule of law, according to The Express Tribune.

TTAP, a coalition of six opposition parties, has recently kicked off a nationwide movement against the ruling coalition, which includes Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPPP), and MQM-P. On Monday, senior opposition figures like Mehmood Khan Achakzai, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser gathered in Islamabad to strategize for the impending movement and rally. They also reviewed the current political scenario, including a recent Islamabad High Court ruling concerning PTI founder Imran Khan.

The opposition has raised concerns over the government's actions in Parliament, specifically the rapid passing of an amendment to the Election Act of 2017. This amendment has escalated political tensions by restricting lawmakers from joining any new political party once their original choice is exhausted. This development follows a Supreme Court ruling that acknowledged PTI as a parliamentary party entitled to reserved seats, which the Election Commission of Pakistan had initially denied. The amendment and the stalled detailed judgment on reserved seats have exacerbated matters, leaving PTI without its rightful seats and no conclusive judgment.

Opposition leaders stressed that their planned rally on August 22 is a constitutional and democratic right, and they hope it will take place without government interference. They assured that PTI's past rallies have been peaceful and reiterated their commitment to restoring constitutional integrity and the rule of law. TTAP has evolved into a 'grand opposition alliance' with plans to invite additional parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), to reinforce the anti-government movement. They are also working to align PTI with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a move that could significantly fortify the opposition's stance and enhance rally turnout against the PML-N government, as reported by ANI.

(With inputs from agencies.)