Opposition may quit assemblies if govt does not change its attitude towards Imran: Achakzai

ISLAMABAD: Mehmood Khan Achakzai, opposition Leader in the National Assembly and leader of the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), on Monday hinted that the opposition alliance might quit the assemblies if the government did not change its attitude towards former prime minister Imran Khan.

Speaking on Dawn News programme “Doosra Rukh”, he said: “I fear that if the current attitude towards Imran Khan continues, we will not be able to stay in the assembly.”

“What has he [Imran] done? Has he committed murders, as you are threatening that a 50-year prison sentence can be announced? He has only said that his snatched mandate should be returned to him. But you have been saying that a 50-year prison term can be announced.”

“You want to try him in a military court. Tell me if he is a general or a colonel,” Achakzai said.

“If the PTI’s central committee suggests quitting the assemblies in Punjab, Sindh and the Centre, and only running the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it will be implemented,” he said.

He lamented that there was little benefit to these assemblies if they could not even ensure a meeting with a prisoner [Imran].

When asked if he feared that the PTI central committee might suggest withdrawing from the assemblies, Achakzai responded: “I don’t fear it, I can see it coming.”

He said that the opposition had been left with no other option, so there was no question of whether withdrawing from the assemblies would be right or wrong.

“We will have no option but to withdraw from the assemblies and parliamentary committees.”

He claimed that “criminals and murderers are free” in the country, while Imran had been kept in jail.

Achakzai maintained that the government was pushing the opposition to withdraw from the assemblies.

“There are 50 to 60 PTI seats in the assembly. What will you do if the PTI pulls out?” he asked.

Last week, he had warned the government that it could face a complete boycott by the opposition during the upcoming budget session, demanding medical treatment for the incarcerated PTI founder at a hospital of his choice and unrestricted visitation rights.