The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Thursday warned that any criminal negligence with regard to the health of PTI founder Imran Khan could further aggravate the political crisis in the country.

According to a statement issued by the alliance on the social media platform X, the opposition leaders voiced their concerns during TTAP’s central committee meeting, including an Iftar gathering at the residence of TTAP leader Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar in Islamabad.

The gathering was attended by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) Sahibzada Hassan, and others.

According to the statement, the TTAP leaders demanded that Imran be provided immediate medical treatment at Shifa International Hospital, be examined by his personal doctors, and that restrictions on his access to his lawyers and meetings with family members be lifted forthwith.

It added that the ex-premier had been unjustly imprisoned and should be released.

In the statement, the TTAP leaders also condemned the “government’s continued illegal secrecy” regarding Imran’s health and medical treatment, and reiterated the demand that he be shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised treatment and be examined by his personal physicians, Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Aasim Yusuf.

“Opposition leaders expressed grave concern over the continued concealment of Imran’s medical reports and test results from his family, saying that such actions were further increasing doubts and fears about the PTI founder’s health condition,” the statement said.

“The TTAP leaders further warned that criminal negligence regarding the former prime minister’s health could push the country’s political crisis onto an even more dangerous path,” it said.

The statement reiterated that Imran Khan, who had been incarcerated in false cases, must be released, as this was the demand of the majority of the people of Pakistan.

The statement also drew attention to incarcerated SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza, and demanded his release as well the release of other political prisoners, including Bushra Bibi, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid, Umar Sarfaraz Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ali Wazir, and Mahrang Baloch.

Meanwhile, the statement also expressed serious concerns over the “alarming increase” in terrorism across the country, deteriorating ties with Afghanistan, the prospects of war in the region, the worsening economy, and growing repression and lawlessness.

Expressing deep concern over the increase in terrorist attacks across the country in recent weeks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the statement said that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments, all political stakeholders, and the public, should formulate a concrete national strategy to address the issue.

The statement further urged the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan to “avoid further confrontation and to initiate concrete, sincere, and meaningful negotiations to seriously address the problem of terrorism”.

“They also demanded that contacts be made with neighbouring countries and friendly governments such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to find a solution to the crisis that would save Pakistan and the entire region from further bloodshed and sabotage by external and hostile forces,” it added.

During the meeting, TTAP also expressed concern over the worsening economic conditions caused and drew attention to recently released figures showing that poverty in the country had risen to 29pc and unemployment has reached a 21-year high, the statement said.

“Contrary to the government’s claims of major economic agreements, both foreign and domestic investment have declined sharply,” it said.

“The exit of hundreds of major multinational companies from the Pakistani market in recent months was evidence of the country’s deteriorating risk profile,” it said.

The statement said that the government had no concrete plan to deal with the economic crisis.

It added that opposition leaders in the coming months would present an alternative budget and a series of economic and policy proposals with the help of experts, offering concrete solutions to the economic and legal crises facing the country.

The statement also cautioned against threats of a US attack on Iran and termed any such move as a cause of devastation for the region.

“The government should play a diplomatic role to prevent any such American action,” it said. It stated that US and Israel were attempting to encircle Iran and destroy and divide it through military attacks.

“At this moment, Pakistan’s solidarity with Iran is the need of the hour in order to protect Pakistan and the region from the destructive consequences of Zionist aggression.”

The TTAP leaders also condemned the current government’s joining of Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.

“Board of Peace is an attempt by the US to establish a non-representative alternative to the United Nations, and the exclusion of Palestinians from the board exposes the sinister intentions behind the plan … something Pakistan must not be part of under any circumstances,” they said.

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Pakistan’s open market currency rates as of 11:39am PST on Thursday, February 26, 2026 indicate that the rupee is trading within ranges observed earlier this month, based on historical charts available on forex.pk.

In the open market, the US Dollar was quoted at Rs282.30 for buying and Rs282.30 for selling, while the interbank market showed the dollar around Rs279.40 for buying and Rs279.90 for selling.

The Australian Dollar was quoted at Rs197.4 for buying and Rs201.05 for selling, positioning it within the high-190s to near-200 band that has been visible through much of February.

The Canadian Dollar stood at Rs203.4 on the buying side and Rs206.9 on the selling side, slightly below levels seen earlier in the month when it was trading above Rs204 in the open market, but still within the broader range recorded on recent charts.

The Japanese Yen was available at Rs1.78 for buying and Rs1.88 for selling, matching the corridor reflected in forex.pk’s recent data, suggesting limited deviation from earlier February pricing.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Dollar was quoted at Rs219.28 and Rs223.22, keeping it within the upper band near Rs219 to Rs224 that has characterized its movement in recent weeks.

In the Gulf segment, the Saudi Riyal was trading at Rs74.75 for buying and Rs75.5 for selling, while the UAE Dirham stood at Rs76.3 and Rs77.3 respectively.

Historical comparisons from earlier in February show both currencies moving within similar mid-Rs74 to Rs77 ranges, indicating that current quotations fall in line with their recent pricing patterns.

Based on available chart data, today’s open market rates do not indicate a break from the trading bands established over recent weeks.

However, without longer-term comparative data or interbank market context, broader directional conclusions remain limited.

Market participants will continue to watch demand dynamics, remittance-related flows tied to Gulf currencies, and external global currency movements for further signals on the rupee’s trajectory.

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Pakistan’s benchmark equity index, the KSE-100, gained 4,266.79 points by market close on Thursday, signalling recovering sentiment after previous sessions saw a sustained sell-off.

The advance placed the index 2.59 per cent above its previous close of 164,626.29 points.

During trading, a total of 291 scrips advanced, 145 declined, and 131 remained unchanged from their previous close. A total of 355,320,144 shares were traded by market close.

The index touched an intraday low of 162,953.63 and a high of 169,374.27. The range reflected the elevated volatility that has persisted from earlier in the week into today’s trading.

The strong close suggested some improvement in investor sentiment. On Wednesday, the index had also staged an early rebound, but ultimately closed in the red, shedding 1,632.25 points, suggesting continued fragility.

Among the most actively traded stocks, Unity Foods Limited led volumes, declining 10.02pc to Rs11.85 on turnover of 71,443,224 shares. It was followed by Bank of Punjab, which gained 7.76pc to Rs31.81 on volume of 38,659,618 shares, and K-Electric Limited, up 1.43pc to Rs7.82 on 35,071,352 shares.

Among the top gainers, Blue-Ex Limited rose 19.34pc to Rs6.17, while Media Times Limited advanced 12.41pc to Rs5.89 and Bunnys Limited gained 11.6pc to Rs9.62.

Among losers, LSE Capital Limited (Right) was among the steepest decliners, falling 52pc to Rs0.36. LOADS Limited (Right) also remained under pressure, down 20.99pc to Rs0.64, while TPL Properties shed 11.24pc to Rs7.82.

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