TTAP warns the army against political role and calls for a nationwide protest on February 8

Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan (TTAP) president Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Saturday said the army must remain within its constitutional framework, warning that if it wants to participate in politics, it must give up its security role and seek power through elections.

At a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, Achakzai said no country could function without an army and intelligence agencies, but stressed that their mandate should be limited to the functions defined in the Constitution. “Our military is competent and professional, but like the armies of democratic countries around the world, it must operate strictly within its constitutional limits,” he said, adding that any political interference was unacceptable.

Rejecting claims that opposition movements posed security threats, Achakzai said the real danger lay elsewhere. “The real risk to security is whoever alters the Constitution, suspends it or manipulates it to obtain personal or political benefits,” he stated.

Responding to questions about secret talks or meetings with political leaders, including PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Achakzai said the alliance was not “naive” enough to reveal private political contacts. “However, I assure you that we will not make concessions at the expense of Pakistan or parliament,” he said, emphasizing that true democracy was essential for the country’s stability.

Achakzai said Pakistan’s repeated political crises stemmed from disruption of democratic continuity and suppression of leadership development. “Pakistan has failed to produce effective leadership and the people are not to blame for this failure,” he said. He recalled that the TTAP was formed when the Constitution was still intact and without the support of state institutions, anticipating attempts to modify it to consolidate political power. “Today, the Constitution is rapidly losing its value,” he warned.

He said TTAP had earlier proposed to convene a national conference involving all political forces and stakeholders to deliberate on the prevailing crisis, but the proposal failed to gain traction. “We wanted a collective national dialogue, but unfortunately no one took it seriously,” he added.

Achakzai called for a national strike to jam the wheels and close the doors on February 8 and said the movement for the restoration of the Constitution was gaining momentum. “Anyone who loves Pakistan should come out and support us,” he said, urging traders, workers and professionals to close businesses and join the protest.

TTAP Vice President Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said the country’s constitutional order had been repeatedly undermined through martial laws and amendments that weakened democratic principles. “According to the Constitution, the people have the right to elect their leaders, but this right is being systematically taken away from them,” he said. He criticized restrictions on public gatherings, including the imposition of Section 144, saying that when all avenues for reform were blocked, people were pushed into agitation. “What choice do people have when all paths to reform are closed?” asked.

Leaders of various political and social groups, including the Haqooq-e-Khalq Party, Awami Workers Party, trade unions, farmers’ organizations and labor representatives, announced their formal support for the TTAP, pledging solidarity for the supremacy of democracy and the Constitution. Haqooq-e-Khalq Party leaders said their participation reflected a commitment to resist unconstitutional actions and defend fundamental rights.

Later, TTAP leaders attempted to address the media at Minar-e-Pakistan, where they were expected to pass a formal resolution, but authorities sealed the venue and barred entry from the public. The closure of the historic site drew criticism from opposition leaders, who called it an attempt to stifle peaceful political expression.

However, after facing initial resistance, opposition leaders managed to enter the historic Iqbal Park, where they reiterated their stance on restoring the Constitution and democracy. They urged the people of Pakistan to take to the streets in support of constitutional supremacy and democratic governance.

The delegation also visited the mausoleums of Allama Muhammad Iqbal and Bibi Pak Daman, where their supporters gathered in large numbers and expressed their solidarity. TTAP leaders visited several markets in Lahore and distributed pamphlets to mobilize public support for the February 8 protest.

Addressing journalists again, Achakzai said the opposition movement was not aimed at gaining power but rather rescuing the country from a constitutional crisis. “We are not asking people to follow us blindly; we are asking them to support us in Pakistan,” he said. “In a crisis like this, it is a sin to stay home.”

He reiterated that the armed forces must operate within the defined framework. “Those who tinker with Pakistan’s Constitution are the real security threat,” he said, adding that the suppression of democratic processes had created deep internal crises.

Achakzai also suggested that Pakistan explore regional dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations, proposing a roundtable involving Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and China. “No country can find solutions in isolation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also called on its followers to gather at Minar-e-Pakistan, with Punjab’s chief organizer Aliya Hamza Malik criticizing the closure of public spaces, calling it evidence of fear of peaceful political mobilization.

TTAP leaders said their visit to Lahore was part of a broader national mobilization ahead of the February 8 protest, which they described as a defining moment for the restoration of constitutional rule and democratic governance.