PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar says new legislation abolished CJP office, undermined SC independence
Gohar Ali Khan, President of PTI. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The opposition alliance on Friday announced a nationwide political movement against the 27th constitutional amendment, pledging to restore the powers of the judiciary and the office of the chief justice which they say have been curtailed by the amendment.
Speaking to the media after the National Assembly passed the amendment, lawyer Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), said the new legislation had weakened the judiciary and undermined the independence of the Supreme Court.
“The post of chief justice has been abolished – we will restore it,” said lawyer Gohar. “We will restore the dignity and powers of the judiciary,” he added, arguing that while judicial reforms may be necessary, the government’s current approach to judges was “unacceptable.”
The PTI president maintained that his party had raised objections during the parliamentary session, warning that the amendment was against the spirit of the Constitution. “We pointed out in the assembly that the post of chief justice had been abolished,” he said. “This is a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary.”
Flanked by lawyer Gohar, Mahmood Khan Achakzai announced that the opposition protest campaign would begin from Friday. He stressed that the movement would remain peaceful and that its goal was to restore the people’s mandate, which he said had been “stolen.”
Learn more: After the Senate, the 27th amendment bill passes to the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority
Achakzai said the campaign would combine national protests and diplomatic actions. “We will protest and we will not even throw stones,” he promised. “We will also write to foreign envoys to urge them to reconsider or cancel any agreements reached with the current government. »
Highlighting the country’s deteriorating economic situation, Achakzai cited a United Nations report saying 45 percent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. “This government has failed to resolve the economic crisis,” he said, questioning the timetable of parliamentary work. “Would the sky fall if they postponed today? he asked.
He further claimed that “powerful external actors” were trying to destabilize Pakistan and push it towards conflict. “The dangerous countries of the world want to force us to fight,” he warned. “We must stop the path of war. » Achakzai stressed that the Constitution must remain supreme and Parliament must be the ultimate source of power in the country.
The opposition leader also reaffirmed his position on provincial autonomy, insisting that a province should have first right to its natural resources. He said the alliance was ready to engage with the government but all negotiations would focus on restoring the opposition’s mandate.
Turning his attention to the judiciary, Achakzai called on judges to step in and resolve the crisis “with a single stroke of a pen.” He warned authorities that the opposition would continue to increase pressure if their demands were ignored.
Concluding his speech, he reiterated that the protests would remain peaceful, combining national mobilization and international advocacy. “We are ready to enter into negotiations, but our position is clear: the Constitution must prevail and the mandate of the people must be respected,” he said.
