Opposition announces national campaign against 27th Amendment

Designated opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri, have announced the launch of a nationwide protest movement against the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, warning that it poses a serious threat to the country’s constitutional democracy.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Saturday, the two leaders – who are also president and vice-president of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan – said Pakistan was once again at a “critical juncture in history” where the Constitution and parliamentary system were under severe test.

Abbas said the current situation could be compared to the national crisis of 1971. “Pakistan broke up in 1971, and today the country is facing a similar crisis,” he said. “Democratic institutions have been paralyzed and laws are being introduced to make the powerful even more powerful. »

He warned that a “martial law mentality” is resurfacing, saying those who abuse authority continue to operate without accountability. He urged citizens across the country to join the movement and announced that a symbolic slogan campaign would begin on Sunday evening at 8:30 p.m.

“All voices will be raised together to say: Aisay Dastoor Ko, Subha-e-Be-Noor Ko, Main Nahin Manta, Main Nahin Janta (I do not accept this constitution, this dawn without light – I do not agree with it, I do not recognize it),” he remarked quoting Habib Jalib’s famous poem, adding that the campaign would represent “the voice of all Pakistanis – men, women, young and old – united for the protection of the Constitution”.

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Mehmood Khan Achakzai, designated leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, said the Constitution in democracies serves as a pact between the state and the people. “But in Pakistan, this law is constantly being tampered with,” he said. “I have taken an oath five times to protect the Constitution, but today Parliament itself is under constitutional attack. »

He described the current Parliament as a “debating society” lacking real authority and representation. Achakzai said the movement would now move from parliamentary forums to the public. “We are speaking to the people, because they are the true source of power,” he said. “The time of waiting is over. The movement begins now.”

Achakzai called on all political parties and groups to join the campaign for constitutional statehood. “From tomorrow evening, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan will begin its national campaign. Responding to the call of Allama Nasir Abbas, we will begin this struggle with the slogan of Allahu Akbar.”

He said the movement would advance around fundamental demands: defending democracy, rejecting dictatorship, freeing political prisoners, protecting the Constitution and preserving parliamentary sovereignty.

“We will show the arrogant leaders that it is the people who make the real decisions – and it is the people who will decide the destiny of this nation,” Achakzai concluded.