Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has accused the ruling coalition of suppressing democracy and undermining the judicial system, as opposition parties gathered in Islamabad for a two-day national conference organized by the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance. The event, which began on Wednesday, brought together opposition leaders to discuss the country’s political situation and pressing national issues.
Abbasi, who heads the Awaam Pakistan party, criticized the government during his address, stating that those in power were dismantling democratic institutions and stifling public opinion. “These are the same people who once spoke about the issues I am raising today. Now, they are suppressing democracy, dismantling the judicial system, and failing to address political anarchy,” he said.
He also took aim at the recently enacted Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act 2025, commonly known as PECA, which he claimed was being used to silence dissent. “Today, there is no permission to even talk. Laws are being made to stop people from speaking and to dismantle the judicial system,” Abbasi remarked.
The former prime minister further criticized the government for allegedly obstructing the conference, claiming that authorities had denied permission for the event at multiple venues. “We are thankful to lawyers for providing this space today. The government is so scared that even a conference on the Constitution is not possible,” he said.
Abbasi urged the public to take responsibility for upholding the Constitution and democratic values. “This is an open forum, and it is everyone’s responsibility to speak up about the country’s affairs,” he emphasized.
The TTAP alliance, formed in April last year, includes major opposition parties such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sunni Ittehad Council, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal, Jamaat-i-Islami, and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen. The alliance has been working to unite opposition forces against the ruling coalition of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, speaking at the conference, reiterated the party’s commitment to democratic rights and called for a united struggle to address the country’s challenges. “Our politics is for the people of Pakistan. We urge everyone to join us in this struggle for the country’s survival,” he said.
The opposition’s efforts to consolidate their movement come amid growing concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression and the alleged erosion of democratic institutions. The conference marks a significant step in the opposition’s campaign to challenge the government’s policies and advocate for constitutional supremacy and judicial independence.
As the political landscape in Pakistan remains tense, the opposition’s united front signals a renewed push to hold the government accountable and address what they describe as a crisis of governance and democracy.
