In Parliament, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and lawyer Gohar Ali Khan continued their sit-in which began after Friday prayers. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Tehreek-e-Tahfuz-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) sit-in protest outside Parliament against the deteriorating health of Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan entered its second day on Saturday, with leaders vowing to continue until he is shifted to Shifa International Hospital for emergency eye treatment.
In Parliament, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and lawyer Gohar Ali Khan continued their sit-in which began after Friday prayers, while KP CM Sohail Afridi and other PTI leaders continued their separate protest at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House. Large police contingents remained deployed at both sites.
“Our sit-in is ongoing and will continue,” Senate opposition leader Nasir Abbas told reporters, adding that their water and food supplies had been cut off. “But we will not give up,” he said.
Read: TTAP stages sit-in outside Parliament, demands admission of Imran Khan to Shifa International Hospital
Federal police sealed off the red zone again on Saturday, keeping only the Margalla road open. After conducting searches at the spot, vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Shahrah-e-Dastoor, while Parliament House and D-Chowk remained closed for all traffic. Prisoner vans and armored police vehicles were parked outside the two protest sites.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) spokesperson Aslam Ghauri condemned what he called violence against the TTAP protest. “Members of Parliament and the provincial assembly were dragged away by force,” Ghauri said, adding that those who locked the protesters inside Parliament also consider themselves champions of democracy.
“Mockery of democracy, manipulation of the Constitution and opposition to Islam are the hallmarks of this government,” he said. “The fake and forced government has gone mad in the heat of revenge.”
Learn more: Government plans to shift Imran to Islamabad
Ghauri demanded the immediate release of the arrested leaders and warned that the government’s behavior had eroded public trust in democracy. “It is precisely because of these actions of the government that anarchy is reigning in Balochistan and KP. Do the leaders want to spread this anarchy throughout the country?” he asked.
The protests were triggered by a Supreme Court-mandated report revealing that Imran Khan has only 15% vision left in his right eye, allegedly due to medical complications during his detention at Adiala Prison.
Even as the government defends the timing of Khan’s medical treatment, the opposition continues to allege negligence and constitutional violations. The government side appeared to be on the back foot after voices were raised on both sides of the divide demanding better treatment for the incarcerated former prime minister.
