QUETTA: Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the opposition alliance president, has called for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan and his presence in parliament to carry out electoral reforms.

While addressing a public gathering at Bacha Khan Chowk on Friday, Mr Achakzai said transparent elections should be held after three months to hand over the power to elected representatives.

The opposition alliance ‘Teh­reek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan’ took out a rally from the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation office. The protesters marched through Mannan Chowk, Kandahari Bazaar and other areas and ended the rally at Bacha Khan Chowk, where Mr Achakzai addressed the crowd.

He said Pakistan’s present state was due to the rulers’ “wrong policies”.

“We want to create a Pakistan where people have freedom, the parliament is supreme, and no institution is allowed to interfere. We will form a new Pakistan through popular power,” he said and vowed to continue the struggle till this goal is achieved.

Mr Achakzai also said the alliance is opposed to terrorism and will not allow the “appropriation of their resources under the guise of operations”.

He also criticised those who wanted to ban the PTI — a member of the alliance.

He pointed out that an elected prime minister was hanged, and, years later, the Supreme Court declared it a great injustice.

He asserted that all politicians have been complicit in weakening the country and accused them of selling assemblies.

Leaders from different parties of the alliance also addressed the rally.

In addition to Quetta, protests and rallies were held in Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Chaman, Ziarat, Harnai, Sibi, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Zhob, Sherani, Nushki, Khuzdar, Jafarabad, Nasirabad, Kohlu, Barkhan, Hub, Usta Muhammad, Lasbela, Mastung, and Chagai areas of Balochistan, as well as in cities of KP, Sindh and Punjab.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2024