Opposition Alliance demands elections, calls for Article 6 action against mandate usurpers

KARACHI:

Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) has called for the establishment of a neutral election commission and free and fair elections, urging those who undermined the public mandate to be held accountable under Article 6 of the Constitution.

The opposition alliance put forward its demands at an all-party conference held at the Karachi Press Club. The TTAP statement highlights that the Sindh government has failed to provide basic facilities to the public and criticizes the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments for restricting media freedom.

The opposition also condemned the forced transfers of judges and demanded the release of political detainees, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. The statement criticizes the restrictions placed on meetings with Imran Khan and calls for an end to these limitations.

The conference condemned the false complaints filed against the leaders of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and highlighted attacks on the rights of journalists. The opposition alliance demanded the repeal of Pakistan’s Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and denounced the false FIRs filed against journalist Matiullah Jan, as well as the trumped-up charges against prominent lawyer Iman Mazari and her husband.

The alliance further linked economic stability to political stability, warning that multinational corporations were on the verge of going out of business. He called for an end to enforced disappearances of political figures and urged authorities to implement the decisions of jirgas held in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The TTAP also demanded a halt to ongoing military operations in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, reiterating that under the Constitution, natural resources belong to the provinces and water distribution must follow the 1991 water accord.

On foreign policy, the alliance expressed concern over Iran’s growing isolation and urged the government to convene a meeting with neighboring countries while calling for a joint parliamentary session on the Gaza crisis.

The opposition coalition announced that “Black Day” would be celebrated on February 8, with strike closures and traffic jams across the country.