Opposition Leader in the Senate Allama Nasir Abbas accused the government of pursuing the wrong course, saying the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency would amount to martial law.
Speaking outside Parliament alongside opposition leaders, Mr. Abbas said a party holding a two-thirds majority had been sent home on Oct. 12. He added that those now expressing outrage over the events of Oct. 12 had themselves done the same thing on Oct. 11.
Opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai said political leaders had worked to secure the Charter of Democracy in London, while the conduct of the 2024 general election was evident to everyone. He described the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly as the only constitutionally elected provincial assembly, alleging that its mandate was not acceptable to those in power.
Mr. Achakzai said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also acknowledged that several matters had been settled. Recounting an encounter with the official responsible for overseeing the election, Mr. Achakzai said the official arrived at his residence with his team at 2:30 a.m. and brought what he described as a carpet as a gift. Mr. Achakzai said he presented the official with a pen in return.
Mr. Achakzai said he had contested National Assembly seats from Pishin and Chaman, as well as four provincial assembly constituencies. He withdrew from one Pishin seat in favour of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s candidate, who received 30,000 votes from his supporters, he said.
He alleged that he had been deprived of victory in four constituencies and said his political efforts had focused on strengthening Parliament.
