• Newly appointed NA opposition leader terms preventing Imran from meeting his family a violation of fundamental rights
• Urges political parties to decide whether ‘voice of majority’ or ‘undemocratic forces’ will be supreme
SANN (Jamshoro): The leader of the country’s main opposition alliance believes that there can only be talks if the other side realises that excesses have been committed that need to be redressed.
Dawn caught up with Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the newly-appointed Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, at the residence of Syed Zain Shah on Saturday, where he had arrived to attend the 122nd birth anniversary celebrations of G.M. Syed.
However, Mr Achakzai made it clear that he was speaking in his capacity as leader of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance.
“I haven’t yet received the notification, that’s why I will comment as TTAP leader,” he said in response to a question about how he would manifest his role as the opposition leader in the assembly.
On the subject of possible talks with the rulers to defuse prevailing political tensions, Mr Achakzai said, “If someone has the realisation that excesses have been committed, then there is recourse and treatment too. Let’s then talk.”
The TTAP leader was adamant that denying Imran Khan’s family access to him was a violation of fundamental rights, basic ethics, and humanity.
Questioned about Rana Sanaullah’s claim that while PTI leaders want negotiations, but Mr Khan doesn’t, Mr Achakzai posed a counter-question: “Talks on what issue? If someone robs the home of Saeen [Zain Shah] and loots everyone,” he said, gesturing towards his surroundings, “then talks will be held [with the robbers] to recover the looted goods”.
He said everyone knows it was Imran Khan who won the elections with a resounding majority, and the fact that the most popular leader in the country was not even being allowed to meet his family while in prison, was deplorable.
“A car can be invented, not a political leader. A leader emerges from amongst the masses,” he said.
Talking about his bitter past with the incarcerated PTI founder, he said it was no longer an issue since he and MWM chief Raja Nasir Abbas had joined hands with Mr Khan when he was in trouble.
While his associates are being punished or offered bribes, “I am one of those jumping in to help people in trouble”, he said.
