Opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ain-i-Pakistan has blamed the government of pressuring an Islamabad hotel’s administration to revoke permission for the second day of its two-day conference, which was being held at the venue.
The two-day moot conference kicked off in Islamabad today at the Legend Hotel, where opposition parties gathered to discuss the current political situation and national issues.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad with other opposition leaders beside him, former prime minister and president of the Awaam Pakistan party Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the conference was on the country’s issues and the rule of law and the Constitution.
He said there was nothing which was against the state or tantamount to incitement. He said Opposition members talked on the Constitution and the rule of law. This is the country’s capital where a government is worried by the name of the Constitution and a conference.
Abbasi said this moot was behind closed doors. It was not out in the streets with the participation of hundreds of thousands but only a few hundred people were there in an auditorium but the government could not bear this and after the end of the conference’s first day, the hotel administration told the opposition that there were intelligence or administration officials here who threatened the hotel staff that if the hotel hold the conference on second day they will be fined in millions and they will be arrested.
Abbasi added that despite the above, the opposition members were told that they could not hold the second day of the moot at the Legend Hotel’s premises.
Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Omar Ayub lauded the content of today’s discussions on the conference’s first day. He said everyone talked about strengthening the country, adding that everyone gathered was of a democratic mindset.
He said the opposition members demanded of the hotel administration to give the matter in writing and said the alliance strongly condemned the situation.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai vowed to continue this battle and said the alliance would return for the moot’s second day. He said opposition alliance will fight against unconstitutional and undemocratic forces in a democratic manner.