At Parliament House, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan maintained their sit-in that began after Friday prayers. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The Tehreek-e-Tahfuz-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) protest sit-in outside Parliament over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan’s deteriorating health entered its second day on Saturday, with leaders vowing to continue until he is transferred to Shifa International Hospital for urgent eye treatment.
At Parliament House, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Barrister Gohar Ali Khan maintained their sit-in that began after Friday prayers, while K-P CM Sohail Afridi and other PTI leaders continued their separate protest at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House. Heavy police contingents remained deployed at both locations.
“Our sit-in is ongoing and will continue,” Opposition Leader in the Senate 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, seeks Imran Khan’s admission to Shifa International Hospital
The federal police once again sealed the Red Zone on Saturday, keeping only Margalla Road open for entry. After conducting searches there, vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Shahrah-e-Dastoor, while Parliament House and D-Chowk remained closed to all traffic. Police prisoner vans and armoured vehicles were stationed outside both protest sites.
Aslam Ghauri, spokesperson for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), condemned what he called violence against the TTAP protest. “Honourable members of Parliament and the provincial assembly were dragged,” Ghauri said, adding that those who confined protesters inside Parliament also call 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 fire of revenge.”
Read More: Govt plans to shift Imran to Islamabad
Ghauri demanded the immediate release of arrested leaders and warned that the government’s behaviour had eroded public trust in democracy. “It is because of these very actions of the government that there is anarchy in Balochistan and K-P. Do the rulers want to spread this anarchy across the entire country?” he asked.
The protests were triggered by a Supreme Court-mandated report revealing that Imran Khan has only 15% vision remaining in his right eye, allegedly due to medical complications while in custody at Adiala Jail.
Although the government has been defending the timeline 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 from both sides of the divide demanding better treatment for the incarcerated former prime minister.
