Opposition Conference Resumes After Forceful Entry into Hotel Amid Obstructions

Opposition Conference Resumes After Forceful Entry into Hotel Amid Obstructions

The two-day conference organized by the opposition coalition, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), resumed in Islamabad after participants were forced to break into the hotel venue where the event was being held.

The conference, which has entered its final day, was initially disrupted when Islamabad authorities sealed off the hotel, allegedly under government pressure to cancel the event. Despite these obstacles, opposition leaders, including TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, SIC leader Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, managed to scale the gates and enter the premises, opening the main entrance from within.

With the venue locked and permission denied, the opposition leaders decided to continue their conference in the hotel lobby while police and paramilitary forces were stationed outside to prevent further disruptions.

A Stand for Free Speech and Constitutional Governance

SIC leader Raza condemned the government's efforts to block the event, stressing the importance of free speech and the right to hold political discussions. He expressed concern over the growing limitations on political discourse, where even a small group of citizens cannot gather to discuss national issues without facing severe restrictions.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared the conference a success, emphasizing that the growing public dissent against the current administration cannot be ignored. He stressed the need for judicial independence and the rule of law to preserve democracy in Pakistan.

Gohar also clarified that the opposition's movement was not about revolution, but about amplifying the people's voice, which had gained considerable momentum across the country. He criticized the ruling government for lacking public support and legitimacy.

Unwavering Commitment to the Cause

Former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, while addressing the conference, lambasted the government for suppressing political dissent and restricting fundamental freedoms. He vowed that the opposition would persist in their mission to restore constitutional governance, despite all efforts to obstruct their efforts. Khokhar also raised concerns about the withholding of water rights for Sindh and condemned constitutional violations.

He strongly criticized the government’s use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to stifle free speech and called for the resignation of those in power. He also highlighted the urgency of addressing the grievances of people in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Sindh, and Balochistan.

“No matter how many police officers are deployed, or how many doors are locked, we will continue our fight,” Khokhar affirmed.

Calls for Democratic Accountability

Liaqat Baloch, Deputy Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), also spoke out against the government's actions, accusing those in power of being “blind and deaf to the realities” of the situation. Baloch condemned the curbs on freedom of expression and warned that when basic rights are denied, people will seek alternative means to be heard.

Baloch also expressed deep concern over the neglect of provincial concerns, particularly in Balochistan, Sindh, and AJK, warning that ignoring such issues could have serious repercussions. He called for a national consensus on a future agenda that prioritizes the preservation of the Constitution and judicial independence.

The JI leader stressed that the opposition must remain united and uphold democratic values at all costs, ensuring that the will of the people is respected.