Basic structure of Constitution destroyed: Opposition

ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Friday rejected the 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments and said both were against the basic structure of the Constitution and an attack on the basic pillars of democracy and the judiciary.

“The legislation has subordinated the judiciary to the administration and destroyed the basic structure of the Constitution. We reject all these amendments to the Constitution on a personal basis and demand that the Constitution be restored in its original form,” said a statement issued after the alliance’s emergency meeting here.

The alliance — Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen e Pakistan —meeting, chaired by its head Mahmood Khan Achakzai, was attended by Asad Qaiser, Secretary General of the alliance; Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen chief; Barrister Gohar Khan, PTI Chairman; and Salman Raja, Secretary General; Akhtar Mengal, Balochistan National Party chief; Zain Shah from Sindh United Party, Sajid Tareen from BNP-Mengal, and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Vice Chairman of the alliance.

The forum emphasized that these controversial constitutional amendments had completely destroyed the judiciary and limited the authority and existence of the Supreme Court and the scope of the Constitution.

“This alliance interprets the resignation of Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah of the Supreme Court as resistance to the robbery of this Constitution and pays tribute to the judges who have upheld the constitutional oath,” it was noted.

The meeting reiterated its resistance and struggle against these unconstitutional amendments and a vigorous protest through all democratic means to restore the Constitution in its original form.

The alliance fully supported the declaration of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peace Jirga and demanded its implementation.

It was decided that on Monday, the Members of the National Assembly and the Senate will walk from the National Assembly to the Supreme Court.

A resolution will be presented in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly against the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

Members of the Punjab Assembly will march from the Punjab Assembly to the Lahore High Court on Monday and lawyers will participate in the protest with full force.

Next Friday will be observed as black day across the country.

“The alliance demands immediate release of Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and the entire leadership and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,” it was emphasised.

The forum also demanded immediate release of the imprisoned leadership and workers of Baloch Solidarity Committee.