ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance has announced the launch of a nationwide movement to oppose the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment.
It cited concerns over the amendment’s potential to undermine democratic institutions and the supremacy of the Constitution.
The announcement was made by the leaders of the opposition alliance, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, during a media briefing.
Achakzai emphasized that the Constitution is a vital social contract between the state and its citizens, and he reiterated his personal commitment to its protection, having taken an oath five times. He noted that the public feels sidelined, which has led the opposition to take their campaign directly to the people. “People have been asking when this movement will start, and now, in light of recent developments, we are left with no choice but to initiate a nationwide movement,” he said.
Achakzai warned that the 27th Constitutional Amendment posed a serious threat to the foundational principles of the Constitution, and described the amendment as an effort to weaken democratic structures. He announced that the opposition’s campaign would begin immediately and that its main slogans would include “Long live democracy, down with dictatorship,” with an additional focus on the demand for the release of political prisoners.
He further emphasized that the movement would aim to make it clear to the government that the will of the people is paramount and that the Constitution and Parliament must remain the ultimate authorities in Pakistan’s political framework. “We will show that it is the people of Pakistan who will decide the future of the country,” he asserted.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also condemned the proposed amendment, calling on the nation to rise up against the 27th Constitutional Amendment. He criticized the current state of democratic institutions in Pakistan, which he claimed had been weakened, and argued that constitutional reforms were further empowering the already powerful elites at the expense of the public.
The opposition’s move has intensified the political debate surrounding the 27th Constitutional Amendment, signaling a deepening rift between the government and opposition, with potential long-term implications for Pakistan’s political landscape.
