Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh on Monday described the 27th Constitutional Amendment as the ‘burial of the 1973 Constitution,’ declaring that the rule of law and judicial independence no longer exist in the country as he announced the launch of a nationwide protest movement.
Addressing an urgent press conference at Insaf House Karachi, Sheikh, accompanied by Central Deputy Information Secretary Azhar Leghari and other senior party officials, asserted that the amendment had destroyed the foundations of Pakistan’s democratic and judicial system.
Sheikh lamented that public and media discussion on the amendment had been suppressed. “It seems neither public representatives are allowed to speak on this issue nor the media is permitted to cover it,” he stated, adding, “The amendment is not a reform it is the burial of the 1973 Constitution.”
The PTI leader claimed that media freedom has also ended in Pakistan. ‘Neither the judiciary is free nor the law remains intact,’ he remarked.
He accused PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of ‘betraying’ the legacy of his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto by admitting there were ‘flaws’ in the constitution. ‘These words are an insult to Bhutto’s struggle and ideology,’ Sheikh added.
He asserted that only genuine representatives with a public mandate had the authority to amend the Constitution, accusing the current parliamentarians of coming to power through ‘stolen mandates and Form-47 results.’
‘Those who should be behind bars are sitting in the assemblies,’ he said, warning that the ‘state’s constitutional structure has been shaken’ and that judges displaying courage would be removed.
Declaring a complete rejection of ‘every clause’ of the amendment, Sheikh announced the commencement of the nationwide campaign. ‘Our campaign has begun. We are a living nation and will resist tyranny. Our struggle will continue within democratic and constitutional bounds,’ he vowed.
The PTI Sindh president also defended the party”s imprisoned founder, Imran Khan, claiming his only crime ‘is his love for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and for speaking the truth.’ He further condemned a police raid on a “peaceful workers’ convention in Korangi,” where he alleged law enforcers seized equipment. “But we will not be silenced,” he warned.
Echoing these sentiments, PTI’s Central Deputy Information Secretary, Azhar Leghari, called the legislation an ‘iron-fisted amendment’ and reported that a 28th Amendment was also being prepared. He announced that the ‘constitutional protection movement’ would begin with a major rally in Hyderabad.
PTI Sindh Senior Vice President Jamal Siddiqui claimed the 1973 Constitution had been ‘distorted beyond recognition’ and that ‘Form-47 politicians have disgraced the judiciary.’
Vice President Farrukh Khan said the rulers had challenged ‘divine authority,’ while Deputy General Secretary Moazzam Khan added that Pakistan is now ‘being run without a Constitution.’
Collectively, the PTI Sindh leadership rejected the 27th Amendment, calling it a violation of democracy and the people’s mandate, and vowed to expand the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aeen Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution) across the country.