PKMAP leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai. PHOTO: INP
LAHORE:
Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Sunday warned that Pakistan risks further fragmentation if constitutional violations and political repression continue unchecked, saying some regions could be pushed towards a declaration of separation within months if the crisis deepens.
Addressing a press conference and public interactions in Lahore, Achakzai said the country was facing an “existential moment” driven not by external threats but by internal injustices, erosion of democratic norms and repeated interference in the Constitution. He described the TTAP movement as a final alarm, comparing it to an SOS call made when a ship is sinking.
“Pakistan cannot survive without its Constitution,” Achakzai said, asserting that the state had remained locked in a perpetual struggle between democratic and undemocratic forces since its inception. He said successive violations of constitutional principles had weakened institutions, hollowed out governance and alienated large sections of society.
The TTAP leader stressed that the alliance had not come to “conquer Lahore” but to mobilize public support for an eight-day protest movement centered on February 8, marking what he described as a turning point for constitutional restoration. Despite what he described as an atmosphere of fear and pressure, he praised the people of Lahore for welcoming the delegation, calling it proof that public opinion remained firmly committed to democratic values.
The TTAP leader criticized what he called selective patriotism, saying loyalty to the Constitution was increasingly being presented as dissent, while respect for power was rewarded.
Referring to the violence and unrest of May 9, he questioned why sensitive installations had been left unprotected and why calls for an independent judicial commission had gone unanswered. He said no democracy in the world had seen an entire political party stripped of its mandate through judicial or administrative action, warning that such actions would only worsen polarization.
Speaking at the same event, TTAP Vice President Allama Raja Nasir Abbas echoed concerns over the shrinking democratic space, accusing the ruling authorities of blocking all avenues of reform. He said Parliament had been rendered ineffective and fundamental freedoms had been restricted, leaving citizens with no choice but to take to the streets.
“Punjab is known for its warmth and openness,” Abbas said, adding that its leaders should reflect the same spirit. He argued that laws restricting gatherings and dissent had created a climate in which peaceful protest was treated as a crime rather than a constitutional right.
Both leaders reiterated their calls for peaceful nationwide protests on February 8, calling on citizens of all political, ethnic and professional stripes to participate.
