ISLAMABAD, Nov 18 : Pakistan’s joint opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-Pakistan (TTAP), staged a large-scale protest march in Islamabad on Tuesday, denouncing the National Assembly’s passage of the 27th Amendment, calling it a direct attack on both its Constitution, and its democratic framework.
The rally began outside Parliament House and moved towards the Supreme Court, with alliance leaders accusing the government of shutting down “every avenue of justice” after the amendment was signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari on Nov 13, following its approval by both the Senate and National Assembly.
TTAP leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, speaking to the media said the rally symbolised a fight to “protect” the Constitution.
“We walked from parliament to the Supreme Court to highlight how all avenues of justice have been closed for the people of Pakistan,” he told media, adding the very tenets of free speech were now being stifled.
“People have been silenced, fundamental human rights are being violated, and we will not remain quiet as long as we live.”
Further condemning the bill’s approval, he said the political alliance would observe a nationwide ‘Black Day’ on Nov 21, with alliance leaders warning of intensifying their demonstrations, in the wake of the “ongoing constitutional violations.”
The 27th Amendment has triggered a nationwide socio-political uproar across the country, as the controversial bill significantly restructures both Pakistan’s judicial and military command frameworks, and further alters the balance of power between its military and civilian institutions.
According even greater powers to the military, while greatly diluting the power of its Supreme Court, the new bill virtually turns the Pakistan Army Chief of Staff into its all-out supreme leader, by creation of the new Chief of Defence Forces position.
The COAS will constitutionally put them in charge of not just the Army, but also the Navy, Air Force, and all paramilitary by abolishing the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) post, after the current office holder’s retirement.
The post will also grant all five-star military officers, which include Field Marshal, Marshal of the Air Force, and Admiral of Fleet, lifetime privileges and total immunity from prosecution.
As such, the title’s current holder Gen Asim Munir, who is both the Field Marshal and the country’s COAS, will now also be given the title of CDF, constitutionally enabling his status as Pakistan’s de-facto ruler.
Earlier on Monday, lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) staged a separate protest in Lahore. After submitting a requisition in the Punjab Assembly demanding debate on the amendment, the party’s MPAs – led by the party’s secretary-general Salman Akram Raja – marched from the provincial assembly to Charing Cross, carrying placards reading “We reject 27th Constitutional Amendment.”
Addressing protesters, Raja said the judiciary had been greatly undermined, and remarked, “A subservient judiciary cannot serve the oppressed.”
The PTI leader further declared the group would continue holding its demonstrations, in its bid to restore the independence, and integrity of the judiciary independence and for securing the release of its incarcerated founder and former PM Imran Khan.
“The PTI will not sit silent and continue fighting on roads and every other forum for the restoration of judiciary’s respect, release of founder chairman Imran Khan from jail and the nation at large.”
The escalating wave of demonstrations marks the most intense political backlash since the passage of the constitutional package, as the bill is also being opposed by regional parties.
The country’s Punjab-based Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and its Sindhiyani Tehreek (ST) women’s wing staged demonstrations in Sindh on Sunday, combining their opposition to the 27th Amendment, while voicing their criticism of corporate farming, new canals on the Indus river, honour killings and the exploitation of provincial resources.
PAT president Vasand Thari called the amendment “worse than the post-hybrid system and an attack on democracy,” and accused the government of distorting the Constitution, suspending rights and subjugating the judiciary “so they can plunder Sindh’s mineral and other resources without restraint.”(
UNI)
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