Mehmood Khan Achakzai warns of potential PTI exit from assemblies due to harsh treatment of Imran Khan, citing selective accountability and limited political space for opposition.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the Opposition Leader in the National Assembly and head of the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan, has signalled a potential escalation in the country's political landscape. In a recent interview, he warned that the opposition alliance may be forced to withdraw from parliamentary forums if the harsh treatment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan continues. Achakzai expressed concern that the situation in Parliament is reaching a breaking point, citing the perceived unfair treatment of the former premier.
Achakzai questioned the legal and political basis of the cases against Imran Khan, asking what he had done to warrant such severe action. He criticized the idea of trying the former prime minister in a military court, pointing out that Khan is a civilian and not a military officer. The opposition leader also highlighted the limited access to the jailed leader, arguing that this has rendered the legislatures ineffective. He suggested that the idea of a boycott is no longer hypothetical, and that the PTI's central committee may soon propose quitting the assemblies in Punjab, Sindh, and the Centre.
The opposition leader's come amid a backdrop of increasing political tension in the country. Achakzai alleged that the government is contributing to the push towards an opposition boycott, warning of the arithmetic consequences if PTI legislators were to step out of the system. He pointed out that the PTI has a significant number of seats in the assembly, and that their withdrawal would have significant implications for the government's ability to function. Achakzai maintained that the opposition has been left with increasingly limited political space, making withdrawal from legislative bodies appear less like a choice and more like an inevitability.
Achakzai also criticized the country's justice system, claiming that there is a deep contradiction in the way that cases are handled. He alleged that "criminals and murderers are free" in the country, while Imran Khan has been kept in jail. The opposition leader argued that this selective accountability is unfair and undermines the rule of law. He warned that the opposition will have no option but to withdraw from the assemblies and parliamentary committees if the current situation continues. The potential exit of the PTI from the assemblies could have significant implications for the country's political landscape, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to Achakzai's warnings.
