Opposition protests after being denied passage to Azad Kashmir
RAWALPINDI: Members of the opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan on Monday staged a protest sit-in for nearly two hours after they were stopped by the police from travelling to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The delegation, led by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai, was stopped by the police at Chakian bus stop in the limits of Sihala police.
The TTAP alliance had announced its intention to participate in the ongoing protest sit-in at Rawalakot on the call of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
The delegation comprised former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
Mustafa Khokhar says alliance to convene meeting soon to chalk out future strategy
Rawalpindi police had already established special police pickets at four different points connecting Rawalpindi to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and further strengthened security at the police pickets due to the prevailing situation and in the wake of ongoing protest in AJK.
The police deployed at the special check posts at Azad Pattan, Bewar, Salgran and Dhan Gali had been directed to remain on high alert round the clock, keep vigilant and conduct scanning of vehicles passing through the check posts.
The opposition members did not offer any physical resistance when they were stopped by the police personnel. However, they staged a sit-in against the government’s move to stop them from entering AJK. The protest sit-in caused hardships to the commuters and traffic jam was witnessed on various adjacent roads.
Talking to Dawn, TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the opposition decided to end the sit-in as it did not want to create problems for the ordinary citizens and commuters.
He said the police personnel told them that they had been directed by “the high-ups” not to allow the opposition members to enter the AJK.
He said they were going to the AJK only to express solidarity with the protesters.
Khokhar also claimed that Raja Nasir Abbas was also prevented from reaching his own home in Bhara Kahu, adding that he had to walk after authorities prevented him from proceeding further in his vehicle.
He said the opposition leaders would soon hold a meeting to discuss their future strategy.
The meeting, he said, would be held upon return of Allama Raja Nasir Abbas from Iran where he was going to attend the funeral of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Later, speaking at a news conference convened at Khaqan Abbasi’s residence in Islamabad, TTAP leaders condemned the government for not allowing them to visit Azad Kashmir.
Achakzai said the opposition leaders were ready to go to jails, but would continue to speak the truth and raise voice for the supremacy of the parliament and constitution.
“Send us to jail, if you [the government] want. You have already started doing it… We will do the rest and read books there,” he said, while criticising the government’s alleged crackdown on the opposition members in the country.
Flanked by Khokhar and PTI’s Salman Akram Raja, Achakzai without elaborating alleged that those involved in the sale and purchase of assembly seats were considered “heroes” and those who talked about the rule of law and constitution were dubbed “traitors”.
Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026
