Opposition announces countrywide campaign against 27th Amendment

The designated leaders of the Opposition in the National Assembly and 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.

Speaking at a joint press conference on Saturday, the two leaders — who also serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the 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 strain.

Abbas, said the current situation could be compared to the national crisis of 1971. “Pakistan broke apart in 1971, and today the country faces a similar crisis,” he said. “Democratic institutions have been paralysed and laws are being introduced to make the powerful even more powerful.”

He cautioned that a “martial law mindset” was resurfacing, claiming that those who misuse 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.

“Every voice will rise together to say — Aisay Dastoor Ko, Subha-e-Be-Noor Ko, Main Nahin Manta, Main Nahin Janta (I do not accept this constitution, this dawn without light — I do not agree with it, I do not acknowledge it),” he remarked while quoting Habib Jalib’s famous poem, adding that the campaign would represent “the voice of every Pakistani — men, women, youth, and elders — united for the protection of the Constitution.”

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Mehmood Khan Achakzai, the designated leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, said the Constitution in democracies serves as a covenant between the state and the people. “But in Pakistan, it is being constantly tampered with,” he said. “I have taken an oath to protect the Constitution five times, yet today, parliament itself is under constitutional attack.”

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

Achakzai called on all political parties and groups to join the campaign in defence of constitutional rule. “From tomorrow night, the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ain Pakistan will begin its nationwide campaign. Responding to Allama Nasir Abbas’s call, we will start this struggle with the slogan of Allahu Akbar.”

He said the movement would advance around core demands: uphold democracy, reject dictatorship, release political prisoners, protect the Constitution, and preserve parliamentary sovereignty.

“We will show the arrogant rulers that it is the people who are the real decision-makers — and it is the people who will decide the destiny of this nation,” Achakzai concluded.