The opposition alliance announced a nationwide political movement from 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 media after the National Assembly passed the amendment, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the new legislation has defanged the judiciary and undermined the independence of the Supreme Court.
“The office of the chief justice has been abolished – we will restore it,” Barrister Gohar declared. “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 toward the judges was “unacceptable.”
The PTI chairman maintained that his party had raised objections during the parliamentary session, warning that the amendment was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution. “We pointed out in the assembly that the office of the chief justice has been abolished,” he said. “This is a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary.”
Flanked by Barrister 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 aim was to restore the people’s mandate, which he said had been “stolen.”
Achakzai said the campaign would combine domestic demonstrations with diplomatic outreach. “We will protest and we will not even throw a stone,” he vowed. “We will also write to foreign envoys, urging them to reconsider or rescind any agreements made with the current government.”
Highlighting the country’s worsening economic situation, Achakzai cited a United Nations report claiming that 45 per cent of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line. “This government has failed to address the economic crisis,” he said, questioning the timing of the parliamentary proceedings. “Would the sky fall if they postponed the session today?” he asked. He further alleged that “powerful external actors” were attempting to destabilise Pakistan and push it toward conflict. “The world’s dangerous countries want to make us fight,” he warned. “We must stop the path to war.” Achakzai underscored that the Constitution must remain supreme and that parliament should 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 over its natural resources. He said the alliance was ready for dialogue with the government but that any negotiations would center on the restoration of the opposition’s mandate.
Turning his attention to the judiciary, Achakzai appealed to the judges to intervene and resolve the crisis “with a single stroke of a pen.” He warned the authorities that the opposition would continue to increase pressure if their demands were ignored.