Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin
The Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin, sometimes called Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin-e-Pakistan or Grand Opposition Alliance, abbreviated as TTAP[2] (lit.Movement for the Protection of the Constitution) is a big tent, multi party political alliance of several opposition parties in Pakistan led by Pakistan's largest political party,[3] the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Currently it consists of six parties that protest against electoral fraud in the 2024 Pakistani general elections and to oppose the Second Shehbaz Sharif government under the leadership of Mahmood Khan Achakzai.[2][4][5][6]
The alliance was founded after the 2024 Pakistani general elections, which were marred by allegations of rigging, vote fraud, manipulation and misconduct. Primarily, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led the opposition movement and protested against alleged rigging in the elections, but soon invited many political parties to join its ranks. The PTI invited its long time close allies, the Sunni Ittehad Council led by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen led by Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri and the Grand Democratic Alliance led by Sindh-based leadership to protest against the Shehbaz Sharif government, due to it being ‘sitting on a stolen mandate.’[7][8]
The PTI announced an alliance with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and his Pashtunkwa Milli Awami Party to contest the validity of the election results.[9] In Balochistan, the BNP-M led by Akhtar Mengal criticized the government for its mishandling of the elections and formed an alliance with the PTI.[9] Furthermore, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the JUI-F reported rigging.[10] With these several parties forming a large opposition alliance led by the PTI, on Saturday, 13 April 2024, Omar Ayub Khan announced the formation of the ‘Movement for the Protection of the Constitution’ alongside Akhtar Mengal and Mahmood Khan Achakzai.[2] The movement was founded following several opposition meetings between parties which were mediated by Asad Qaiser, a PTI senior member.[11]
The movement began protests against rigging all over Pakistan, primarily in Pishin, Balochistan.[2] Mengal and the BNP-M currently lead the front in Balochistan,[12] while the Grand Democratic Alliance and to a lesser extent, the Jamaat-e-Islami run the protests in Sindh.[13][14]
Achakzai and Omar Ayub are the movement’s two highest leaders, leading the movement countrywide and through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, while Hamid Raza and Nasir Abbas have given the movement political support. The JUI-F has not joined the coalition, despite being invited several times by PTI senior leader, Asad Qaiser, though the JUI-F has voiced protests, though not as part of the TTAP.[15] The alliance has heavily supported rightfully implementing the Constitution of Pakistan, as well as has accused the establishment for rigging and violating constitutional law. The GDA has also not joined the alliance officially due to unknown reasons.
Member parties
[edit]Alliance members
[edit]Name | Flag | National
Leader(s) |
Main ideology | Political Position | Symbol | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PTI | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf | Omar Ayub Khan / Imran Khan / Gohar Ali Khan | Anti-corruption Welfarism Populism |
Centre | N/A | ||
PkMAP | Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party | Mahmood Khan Achakzai | Pashtun nationalism Regionalism Left-wing populism |
Centre-left to Left-wing | Tree | ||
BNP-M | Balochistan National Party (Mengal) | Akhtar Mengal | Baloch nationalism Democratic socialism Left-wing populism |
Left-wing | Axe | ||
SIC | Sunni Ittehad Council | Sahibzada Hamid Raza | Barelvism Sunni Islamism Religious politics |
Right-wing | Horse | ||
MWM | Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen | Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri | Islamic democracy Moderate Islamism Islamic socialism |
Centre-right | Tent | ||
JI | Jamaat-e-Islami | Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman | Pan-Islamism Islamic revivalism Islamism |
Right-wing to Far-right | Balance scale |
Close allies
[edit]Parties that have shown interest in joining and have supported the TTAP’s efforts, but are not members.
Name | Flag | National
Leader |
Main ideology | Political Position | Symbol | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GDA | Grand Democratic Alliance | Pir of Pagaro VIII | Anti-PPP Anti-Nepotism Regionalism |
Big tent | Star | ||
JUI-F | Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) | Fazl-ur-Rehman | Islamic fundamentalism | Right-wing to Far-right | Book |
References
[edit]- ^ Shah, Syed Ali (2024-04-13). "Opposition launches protest with massive rallies". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
- ^ a b c d Dawn.com (2024-04-13). "Opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan launches nationwide drive from Pishin". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Malik, Mansoor (31 October 2012). "PTI marks 'Revolution Day'". Dawn. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ Desk, Web (2024-02-15). "PTI voices support for GDA's protest against 'election rigging'". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ NNI (2024-02-25). "PTI, GDA, JI say will observe 'black day' on 27th". Brecorder. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ "GDA intensifies protest against 'rigged' general elections". The Express Tribune. 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
- ^ Hussain, Abid. "New Pakistan government takes shape amid slew of jabs". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Editorial (2024-04-15). "Opposition alliance". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ a b Junaidi, Ikram (2024-02-27). "PTI team meets Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Mengal to seek support against 'rigging'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ "Sindh's opposition parties observe black day, demand re-elections". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Raza, Syed Irfan (2024-04-02). "PTI leader launches bid to form 'grand opposition alliance'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
- ^ Shahid, Saleem (2024-02-20). "Four-party alliance to expand protests against 'rigging' in Balochistan". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ Correspondent, Our (2024-02-27). "GDA intensifies protest against 'rigged' general elections". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
{{cite web}}
:|last=
has generic name (help) - ^ Ayub, Tahir Siddiqui | Imran (2024-02-22). "PTI, JI and GDA vow to put up struggle against 'rigged' polls". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
- ^ news.desk (2024-05-22). "Fazl seeks 'guarantees' to join opp alliance". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2024-05-23.