Ex-Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party under the umbrella of a “grand opposition alliance” on Saturday declared a nationwide movement against the alleged rigging in the February 8 national poll.
The launch of the movement means that the dream of post-election peace and political stability will be fading sooner than expected.
Six-party alliance
There are six political parties in the alliance including Imran Khan’s PTI party. These will come together under the banner of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), a movement to protect the Constitution of Pakistan.
During the meeting, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai was nominated as president of the alliance.
PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan briefed the media after the session. He said that the movement aimed to restore the rule of law in Pakistan and it would be launched with a public rally from the Pishin area of Balochistan.
To the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, the new opposition alliance may not pose any immediate threat. However, the group may disturb it with a prolonged presence on the streets at a time when Pakistan needs peace to address multiple economic and security challenges.
As a launching pad, the opposition has chosen to use Balochistan which has been battling a homegrown insurgency led by Baloch nationalists.
It is pertinent to mention here Balochistan is also the most underdeveloped region of the country and the opposition parties may try to exploit the sentiments of the masses for political objectives.