ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance, led by the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Wednesday declared a nationwide political uprising set to begin this Friday in response to the passage of the contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Speaking at a press conference after the National Assembly passed the bill, PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan, and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, and others, vowed to take to the streets, demanding the restoration of the judiciary’s powers and the office of the chief justice, which they argue have been ruthlessly stripped away by the government’s latest power grab.
Gohar condemned the amendment as a direct assault on judicial independence. “The office of the chief justice has been abolished – we will restore it,” he thundered.
“This isn’t reform, it’s a shameless power grab disguised as legislation,” he added, accusing the government of undermining the very pillars of democracy.
He was adamant that while reforms in the judiciary are necessary, the government’s heavy-handed approach to judicial matters was nothing short of a constitutional betrayal.
“We raised our objections in parliament. We warned them that this was a direct attack on the judiciary’s autonomy. But they ignored us,” he said, his voice rising with indignation.
Achakzai declared that the opposition’s protest movement would commence this Friday with full force. And it won’t be pretty. “We will protest and we will not go quietly,” he vowed, slamming the ruling coalition for “stealing” the people’s mandate.
The opposition leader made it clear that their movement would be all-out and relentless, combining street protests with a diplomatic blitz aimed at foreign envoys.
“We will not just protest in Pakistan. We will write to foreign governments, urging them to reconsider their support for this illegitimate government,” he said, sounding the alarm on what he called Pakistan’s “dangerous slide towards authoritarianism.”
He also targeted the government’s handling of the economy, calling out the timing of the amendment as a deliberate distraction from the country’s growing economic collapse.
“This government has failed. It has failed to address the crippling poverty that 45% of our people face. And now, in the middle of an economic crisis, they push through this amendment. What were they thinking? Would the sky have fallen if they postponed this session for a day?” he questioned.
He warned that “powerful external forces” are determined to destabilise Pakistan, pushing the country towards conflict. “They want to drag us into war,” he said, accusing foreign powers of fanning the flames of instability. “We cannot let this happen. We must stop the march to war.”
He reiterated that the Constitution must remain the supreme law of the land. “The constitution is not a toy to be twisted by those in power,” he said. “The people’s will, as expressed through the Constitution, must be respected. Parliament must be the ultimate authority.”
He also turned his sights on the issue of provincial autonomy, warning that no central government should ever have the power to control the resources of the provinces.
“A province has the right to control its own resources. The time for centralised power is over,” he declared, signalling that the opposition would stand firm on this key issue.
The most pointed remarks, however, were reserved for the judiciary. Achakzai made a direct appeal to the country’s judges, urging them to intervene.
“Judges of Pakistan, do not let the Constitution be torn to shreds. You can resolve this crisis with a single stroke of a pen,” he said, calling for judicial intervention to preserve the rule of law and protect the independence of the judiciary from the political interference embodied in the 27th Amendment.
“The time for talking is over. If the government ignores the will of the people, we will keep escalating the pressure,” he warned, adding that the opposition’s protests would only intensify if their demands are not met.
As the storm of political fury gathers, Achakzai made one thing crystal clear: the opposition is ready for a battle of attrition, one that will involve not just protests, but international pressure as well. “We are ready for talks, but our position is non-negotiable. The Constitution must prevail. The people’s mandate must be respected.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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