Opposition announces nationwide campaign against 27th Amendment

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

At a joint press conference on Saturday, the two leaders, who also serve as president and vice-president of Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan, said Pakistan was once again at a “critical turning point in history” where the Constitution and parliamentary system were under pressure.

Abbas said the current situation could be compared with the national crisis of 1971. “Pakistan broke up in 1971, and today the country faces 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” was re-emerging, stating that 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 at 8:30 pm on Sunday night.

“All voices will rise together to say: Aisay Dastoor Ko, Subha-e-Be-Noor Ko, Principal Nahin Manta, Principal Nahin Janta (I do not accept this constitution, this dawn without light; I do not agree with it, I do not recognize it),” he commented while 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 it is constantly being manipulated,” he said. “I have sworn to protect the Constitution five times and yet today Parliament itself is under constitutional attack.”

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

Achakzai called on all political parties and groups to join the campaign in defense of the constitutional State. “Starting tomorrow night, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan will begin its nationwide campaign. Responding to the call of Allama Nasir Abbas, we will begin this fight with the slogan of Allahu Akbar.”

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

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