The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Friday vowed to vigorously protest by all democratic means to restore the Constitution to its original form following the passage of the controversial 26th and 27th amendments.
President Asif Ali Zardari gave his consent to the controversial 27th Constitutional Amendment on Thursday, signing it into law. The TTAP had already announced a nationwide protest movement against the amendment since Sunday and urged people to take a stand against the “extremely dark and dangerous” change in the Constitution.
While Parliament passed the 26th Amendment during a night session in October 2024, the PTI claimed that seven of its legislators were kidnapped to curry favor as the party opposed the legislation. The Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) had also alleged that its two senators were being pressured, with both subsequently defying the party line to vote in favor of the adjustments.
In a post on
In attendance were Qaiser, PTI Chairman Advocate Ali Gohar and General Secretary Salman Akram Raja, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) President Mahmood Khan Achakzai and others including Zain Ali Shah, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Ali Asghar Khan, Hussain Akhwandzada, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Shaukat Basra.
Later, the members of the meeting gathered and chanted slogans against the Constitution and dictatorship and in favor of PTI founder Imran Khan and democracy.
In a press release issued after the meeting, the alliance said: “TTAP reiterates its resistance and fight against these unconstitutional amendments and will vigorously protest by all democratic means to restore the Constitution in its original form and demands that the Constitution be restored in its original form.”
He said the amendments were against the basic structure of the Constitution and an attack on a fundamental pillar of democracy – the judiciary – which had subordinated the judiciary to the executive and “destroyed the basic structure of the Constitution” while introducing person-specific changes.
The TTAP said it and the other leaders rejected the amendments and demanded that the Constitution be restored in its original form.
“These controversial constitutional amendments have completely destroyed the judiciary and limited the authority and existence of the Supreme Court,” the TTAP stated.
He also praised the resignations of Supreme Court Justices Mansoor Ali Shah and Athar Minallah as resistance to the “theft of the Constitution” and paid tribute to the judges who upheld their constitutional oath.
Describing the measures against the 27th amendment, the TTAP said MNAs and senators would march from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court on Monday, a resolution would be tabled in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly against the 27th amendment and MPAs would march from the Punjab Assembly to the Lahore High Court on Monday with lawyers also participating.
The TTAP also announced that next Friday will be a “black day” throughout the country.
In other announcements, the TTAP said it fully supported the KP’s Peace Jirga declaration and demanded its implementation; He demanded the immediate release of Imran, his wife and the imprisoned PTI leaders and workers as well as the leaders and members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee.
The PTI Parliamentary Committee had earlier suggested holding nationwide protests against the passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Former and sitting judges, as well as attorneys, also expressed opposition to the amendment, citing in particular its implications for the Supreme Court.
Contentious bill
The government’s plan to make a 27th Amendment to the Constitution took shape about a year after it got the 26th Constitutional Amendment passed.
In the following months, although the 26th Amendment remained mired in controversy and continued to face challenges in the courts, the corridors of power in Islamabad continued to buzz with talk of a possible 27th Constitutional Amendment.
Speculation about whether the government intended to further amend the Constitution was put to rest when Bilawal announced on social media platform X on November 3 that the government had sought his party’s support for the amendment.
The prime minister later also held consultations with other ruling allies to secure support for the controversial amendment.
