PTI president Barrister Gohar says new legislation abolished CJP office and undermined SC independence
PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The opposition alliance announced a nationwide political movement starting Friday against the 27th Constitutional Amendment, vowing to restore the powers of the judiciary and the office of the chief justice that they claim have been curtailed by the amendment.
Speaking to the media after the National Assembly passed the amendment, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Advocate Gohar Ali Khan said the new legislation has weakened the judiciary and undermined the independence of the Supreme Court.
“The office 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 claimed that his party had raised objections during the parliamentary session, warning that the amendment was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. “We have pointed out in the assembly that the post of chief justice has 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’s 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 claimed had been “stolen.”
Read more: After the Senate, the 27th Amendment bill passes through the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority
Achakzai said the campaign would combine internal demonstrations with diplomatic contacts. “We will protest and not even throw a stone,” he promised. “We will also write to foreign envoys, urging them to reconsider or terminate any agreements made with the current government.”
Highlighting the country’s worsening economic situation, Achakzai cited a United Nations report stating that 45 percent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. “This government has failed to address the economic crisis,” he said, questioning the timing of parliamentary proceedings. “Would the sky fall if they postponed today’s session?” asked.
He further alleged that “powerful external actors” were trying to destabilize Pakistan and push it into conflict. “The dangerous countries of the world want to make us fight,” he warned. “We must stop the path to war.” Achakzai stressed that the Constitution must remain supreme and that parliament must serve as the ultimate source of power in the country.
The opposition leader also reaffirmed his stance on provincial autonomy, insisting that a province should have the first right to its natural resources. He said the alliance was ready for dialogue with the government but that any negotiations would focus on restoring the opposition’s mandate.
Turning his attention to the judiciary, Achakzai called on judges to intervene and resolve the crisis “with a single stroke of the pen.” He warned the authorities that the opposition would continue to increase pressure if their demands were ignored.
Concluding his comments, he reiterated that the protests would remain peaceful, combining internal mobilization with international advocacy. “We are ready for talks, but our position is clear: the Constitution must prevail and the mandate of the people must be respected,” he said.
