As the opposition's All Parties Conference (APC) began in Islamabad on Thursday, senior political leaders called for the restoration of democracy, constitutional supremacy and an end to what they described as engineered politics and judicial victimisation.
With a firm call to restore democracy and uphold the will of the people, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan declared that no political solution can succeed unless the voice and vote of citizens are respected.
"Some are trying to end democracy, but democracy will continue. We will bring constitutional supremacy, free the judiciary and repeal the 26th Amendment," the PTI chairman said, as the opposition's APC kicked off under the banner of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) – the opposition parties' anti-government alliance.
The TTAP's APC brought together leaders of major opposition groups including PTI, PKMAP, former senators, legal experts and civil society voices. Initially planned at a hotel in Islamabad, the venue was shifted to the Tarlai farmhouse of former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar after the hotel abruptly canceled the booking.
Speaking at the conference, the opposition leaders expressed deep concern over what they described as a collapse of constitutional order, political victimization and the erosion of civilian authority. The conference also unanimously condemned fresh prison sentences handed down to PTI leaders, calling them politically motivated.
The TTAP leaders demanded the formation of a neutral election commission, restoration of judicial independence and an end to what they called a "scripted" political system allegedly imposed by unelected forces.
PkMap & TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai denounced repeated violations of the constitution by powerful quarters, recalling that a former dictator had dismissed the country's founding document as mere paper. "States do not run on bullets or batons. They are governed through social contracts; and our constitution is that contract," he said.
Achakzai appealed to all judges, generals, lawyers, scholars and citizens who believe in constitutional supremacy to guide the movement, saying the alliance was not looking to fight anyone but will not compromise on core democratic principles. He had earlier emphasized that TTAP was not formed at the behest of any institution, adding the alliance will continue its struggle until there is a neutral election commission, parliamentary sovereignty and constitutional rule.
Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar condemned the fresh wave of convictions handed down to PTI leaders. "Today will be remembered as a black day in Pakistan's history," he said, noting that the opposition leaders in the National Assembly, Senate and Punjab Assembly were all sentenced in a single day alongside numerous PTI MNAs, MPAs and workers.
As news broke during the conference of a decision by an anti-terrorism court in Faisalabad sentencing multiple PTI lawmakers to 10 years in prison, TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad announced that the APC had unanimously passed a resolution condemning the verdicts.
The resolution specifically named National Assembly Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, Senate Opposition Leader Shibli Faraz, Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza as victims of what it called politically motivated and unjust punishments.
Veteran politician Javed Hashmi said that despite efforts to sideline PTI by denying it an election symbol, the public still sought out PTI founder Imran Khan to vote for him. "Now they want to keep him in jail; it's a farce," he said.
Hashmi added that true national unity would only come from winning hearts, not firing bullets and pointed to Gwadar's untapped revenue potential as proof that the country had enough resources to prosper if governed justly.
Balochistan's ex-senator Lashkari Raisani called for a "Truth and Justice Commission" to investigate those responsible for weakening the Constitution. "Let this sitting decide if we will talk with the establishment or will all political parties decide the future inside or outside the dummy parliament," he asked, urging a collective decision on whether Pakistan will move forward as a true parliamentary democracy or remain a power-centric state.
Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM) Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas echoed those concerns, stating that the constitution had effectively been suspended and the pillars of the state had allegedly collapsed. "The people no longer trust this system. Only the rule of law and revival of the constitution can rescue Pakistan from this crisis," he said.
JI's former senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan said the election commission had become a tool of the establishment, and the current parliament was nothing more than a scripted show. "Those who won are in jail. Those who lost have filled the seats in the name of democracy," he stated.
The conference continues on Friday with more sessions expected to outline a political roadmap for democratic restoration and electoral reforms, as TTAP positions itself as a growing force against what it calls unconstitutional interference in the political affairs.
