ISLAMABAD – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday met leaders of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), including Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Raja Nasir Abbas, amid reports of differences between the opposition alliance and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
According to a statement shared by TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai on X, the meeting took place at Achakzai’s residence. Achakzai, who heads the alliance, also serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. The meeting comes after TTAP declined to attend PTI’s April 19 rally in Mardan, citing lack of consultation. Sources suggest the alliance has reservations about PTI’s decision-making process, including the formation of the “Imran Khan Release Force” and the announcement of rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The statement said Afridi held the meeting on the directions of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan. Participants included former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, PTI lawyer Khalid Yousaf Chaudhary, and Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai. Discussions covered Imran Khan’s health and medical care, alleged obstacles to access to justice, restrictions on signing legal documents in jail, the upcoming federal budget, and the National Finance Commission Award. The leaders also discussed the overall political situation, provincial rights, and what they described as politically motivated cases against the opposition.
The meeting agreed on forming a joint strategy to address national issues and strengthen coordination among opposition parties,” the spokesperson said. Achakzai and Abbas had been nominated by Imran Khan as opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively. PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan recently indicated efforts to resolve differences with Achakzai.
