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Former Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. Courtesy: X
ISLAMABAD:
Leaders of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) lambasted the government’s national security strategy, foreign policy posture and economic management.
The opposition alliance warned that rising poverty, governance failures and flawed diplomatic choices were pushing the country toward irreversible damage.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, central leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, alongside PTI’s Taimur Khan Jhagra and other alliance representatives, expressed concern over recent major terrorist incidents in Islamabad and Balochistan.
Khokhar said the state must move forward “with clarity” in tackling terrorism and stressed that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were terrorist organisations that should be dealt with strictly.
However, he argued that the government appeared to be failing in its response.
Khokhar also raised alarm over regional developments, claiming that “clouds of war were looming over a neighbouring country” and alleging that the United States had deployed two naval fleets toward Iran.
He said the scale of military movement was the largest since 2003, before the attack on Iraq, and questioned why no serious discussion was taking place in Pakistan about the potential implications of regime change efforts in Iran for the country.
Slamming Pakistan’s participation in US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, Khokhar referred to a report by The Guardian, which claimed that the gathering was attended by representatives of dictators and monarchies, while countries such as China and Britain stayed away.
He said Pakistan had attended without taking anyone into confidence and alleged that soon after participation, news emerged of a deal concerning the Roosevelt Hotel. He questioned on what basis the Roosevelt Hotel was handed over and demanded that the government disclose the terms and conditions of any such agreement.
On domestic governance, Khokhar said the current system had failed to serve the people, citing deteriorating law and order. He warned that if the current trajectory continued, it would shake the foundations of the country, and called for transparent elections.
He also demanded the release of political prisoners, provision of the best medical facilities to PTI founder Imran Khan, and accountability from a “Form 47 government” that did not consider itself answerable.
Regarding the economy, Taimur Khan Jhagra rejected the government’s claims of recovery, saying that despite controlled media narratives portraying improvement, official data showed otherwise, even after four years.
Referring to the recently released National Poverty Report, issued by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Jhagra said 29 per cent of Pakistan’s population now lived below the poverty line, up from 22 per cent in 2018.
He lamented that over the past 11 years, poverty had significantly increased and inequality between rich and poor had widened to its highest level since 1998.
Jhagra claimed poverty had risen by 41 per cent in Punjab, 33 per cent in Sindh, 23 per cent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 12 per cent in Balochistan, noting that two traditionally poorer provinces had performed better than wealthier ones.
He said overall household income had declined by 10 per cent since 2015, adding that under the official poverty threshold, a person earning more than Rs282 per day was not considered poor.
“What can be bought with Rs282?” he asked, estimating that approximately 130 million Pakistanis were living below the poverty line. He added that poverty levels in Bangladesh and India were half those of Pakistan.
He further alleged that foreign direct investment had declined by 42 per cent, arguing that the government lacked a coherent economic model and was instead shifting focus between minerals, cryptocurrency and corporate farming without results.
He also cited the government’s unemployment report, claiming it reflected the highest jobless rate in 21 years.
Jhagra criticised the Punjab government’s purchase of an aircraft reportedly worth Rs10 billion, comparing it to jets owned by figures such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos or heads of wealthy states, and said it could not realistically be intended for Air Punjab’s commercial operations.
He argued that while Pakistan International Airlines had been sold for Rs10 billion, no justification had been provided for the aircraft purchase at a time when people struggled to afford basic necessities.
He also alleged that special privileges had been granted to Punjab’s inspector general and chief secretary, including permission to retain 1800cc, 2800cc and 4500cc vehicles, with monthly petrol expenses reaching Rs700,000.
He questioned whether Pakistan had one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world to justify such benefits.
The former provincial finance minister also cited an Al Jazeera report alleging that the CCD had carried out 900 extrajudicial killings, and said Rs40 billion had been spent on a digital firewall project that was later shut down.
He noted that Palestine had no representation at the Board of Peace and warned that if a pro-Israel government emerged in Iran, Israel’s strategic presence could extend closer to Pakistan’s borders.
TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai also expressed concern over the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, stating that a second injection was scheduled for February 24 or 25.
He demanded that the incarcerated leader be taken to Shifa International Hospital for treatment in the presence of his family and Dr Asim.
Yousafzai further condemned recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan and urged that disputes with neighbouring countries be resolved through dialogue.
