Articles by Zulfiqar Ahmad

Politics

Opposition alliance rejects 26th & 27th amendments

ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan (TTAP), an alliance of opposition parties, on Friday sharply rejected the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments, denouncing the revisions as an attack on the judiciary and a serious threat to the integrity of the country’s constitution. At a tense meeting following the passage of the 27th Amendment – now law after receiving presidential assent – TTAP leaders, led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, launched a scathing critique of the amendments. They accused the government of undermining judicial independence and destabilizing the country’s democratic framework. NA in chaos as opposition assails 27th Amendment Bill “These amendments are not about reforming the law; they are about consolidating power,” Achakzai said. “They weaken the constitution, dismantle democratic principles, and turn the judiciary into a mere instrument of the executive.” The opposition alliance, which includes several major political parties, condemned the amendments as a “constitutional robbery” aimed at diminishing the authority of the Supreme Court and rendering it powerless. “This is not reform; it is destruction,” a TTAP statement read. “These amendments violate the very core of our constitution and threaten the balance of power in our democracy.” The government’s push for the amendments has sparked widespread condemnation, with TTAP insisting that the changes are not aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, but at consolidating executive control. The opposition alleges that the amendments deliberately subordinate the judiciary, sidelining the country’s highest court in the face of growing executive dominance. A focal point of the opposition’s anger has been the resignation of two senior Supreme Court justices, Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah. Both have emerged as symbols of resistance against what they perceive as the erosion of judicial independence. TTAP leaders have praised their stance, calling it a stand against “constitutional plunder.” Achakzai vowed that the opposition would resist the amendments using all democratic means at its disposal. “We will not back down,” he declared. “We will fight this assault on our constitution with everything we have. The people will rise, and so will we.” In response, TTAP announced a series of protests beginning Monday. Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) and senators will march from Parliament to the Supreme Court in Islamabad, while provincial assemblies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab will hold similar demonstrations. Lawyers’ groups in Lahore will also hold a major protest outside the Lahore High Court (LHC). The TTAP also declared next Friday a “Black Day,” urging supporters to take to the streets nationwide to oppose the amendments and demand the restoration of the constitution in its original form. Additionally, TTAP intensified its calls for the immediate release of imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including former prime minister Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other political figures currently detained. In a final act of defiance, TTAP expressed strong support for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Jirga’s resolution, calling for its swift implementation. Prominent opposition leaders, including PTI’s Asad Qaiser, Barrister Gohar Khan, and Akhtar Mengal of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), attended the meeting and pledged their full support to the movement, reaffirming their commitment to restoring the constitution. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025