Achakzai asks PTI to defer civil disobedience movement

ISLAMABAD: The head of Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai has advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to postpone its planned civil disobedience drive for the time being.

A source close to the veteran politician, who is the chairman of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), told The News that Achakzai had made this request to a PTI delegation, which met him and other opposition alliance leaders here in Islamabad a day earlier.

The source said the nationalist politician strongly advocated initiation of negotiations with the government, and if a good progress is made, then general elections should be held within four months.

A PTI leader confirmed it and said the proposals made by the opposition alliance leader will be presented to the founder chairman at the earliest. Earlier, the opposition leaders had also opposed straightaway marching on Islamabad and advocated mobilising public at grassroot level before any extreme decision.

Achakzai was of the view that if the problems are resolved through negotiations, it is a good thing. Otherwise, a movement will have to be launched but from the district level.

On the invitation of PTI, the president of opposition alliance with other leaders will attend the condolence meeting in Peshawar today (Sunday) and is expected to visit the restive Kurram as well.

PTI founder chairman Imran Khan announced the formation of a five-member committee for parleys with the government or the establishment’s representatives and launching civil disobedience if his three demands are not met, including setting up a judicial commission on May 9 and November 26 incidents by December 15.

Accordingly, the first phase of civil disobedience movement will be started by asking overseas Pakistanis to stop sending remittances to Pakistan. However, from the party, there has been resistance to this option, which is not sustainable.

On its part, the ruling coalition government has also decried the planned move as being against the interests of the country. “We are ready for talks and welcome them but how can there be parleys with a sword hanging over our head?” remarked the ruling PMLN parliamentary leader in the Senate Irfan Siddiqui on the floor of the House a few days back.