Islamabad, Jan 27 (.) Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) chairman and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai has suggested a ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’, or fill-the-jails movement, as part of nationwide protests planned for February 8, which opposition parties are marking as a “black day” to denounce last year’s controversial general election.
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad after visiting former federal minister Dr Shireen Mazari, Achakzai said there would be no retreat from the protest call “come what may”. Opposition parties have alleged that the 2024 Pakistan elections were marred by vote rigging and unexplained delays in result announcements.
He suggested that parties within the opposition alliance could be asked to submit lists of workers prepared to court arrest in the name of democracy and, as he put it, to save Pakistan from dictatorship.
“This is just the beginning,” Achakzai said. “There are still many steps left. We will ask everyone to shut down on February 8.”
The remarks came a day after senior leaders of the opposition alliance met in Islamabad to finalise their strategy for observing the anniversary of the 2024 general election, which they describe as a moment of “collective ridicule” for the nation.
The meeting also discussed the possibility of strikes across the country and protests by Pakistani communities abroad.
Achakzai, who chaired the meeting, was joined by alliance vice-chairman and Senate opposition leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, former Sindh governor Zubair Umar, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai and others.
Alongside electoral grievances, the alliance voiced concern over what it called a worsening humanitarian situation in Tirah, in Khyber district, where displacement in harsh winter conditions was described as a tragedy.
Participants warned against any deviation from resolutions passed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly or decisions taken by a National Jirga, framing such moves as an assault on provincial autonomy and federalism.
The meeting further condemned the federal government’s unilateral decision to join US President Donald Trump’s newly announced “Board of Peace” without any parliamentary deliberations.
Opposition leaders have also questioned the legitimacy of an organisation they described as being in essence, akin to just a parallel structure to the UN that which undermines Palestinian representation, and have unanimously rejected the so-called “colonial solution” being imposed on Gaza.
Earlier in the day, a delegation led by Achakzai visited Dr Mazari to express solidarity over the sentencing of her daughter, lawyer and activist Imaan Mazari, and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha. The alliance described the convictions as a blow to freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial.
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar said the arrests reflected a system unwilling to listen to dissenting voices. “When no one in power is ready to hear the opposition, people are pushed towards taking matters into their own hands,” he said, reiterating opposition to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act.
Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar went further, alleging that the country was being steered towards authoritarian models. “Pakistan’s history is full of democratic struggle,” he said. “What happened on February 8 was the theft of the people’s vote.” . . JRC