ISLAMABAD: The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) has strongly rejected proposed amendments to Article 243 of the Constitution under the 27th Amendment, arguing that the changes are “person-specific” and designed to benefit a particular individual or position.
Following the tabling of the Constitution (Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Act 2025 in the Senate, TTAP announced a nationwide protest movement, which began on Saturday. The alliance, led by Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and TTAP Vice Chairman Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, held a joint press conference in Islamabad to voice their objections.
Khokhar argued that the amendments to Article 243, which deals with the command of the armed forces, were drafted with the interests of an individual in mind rather than the public. He claimed the amendments were intended to benefit the office of the field marshal, stating that the concept of a “social contract” in the Constitution should not be linked to any specific personality but to the rights of the people and the balance of power among institutions.
The 27th Amendment includes changes to the military leadership structure, proposing the creation of a new post, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), while abolishing the long-standing office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). If passed, the amendment would elevate the army chief to a constitutionally recognized CDF, placing him at the top of the country’s armed services with enhanced powers and privileges.
Khokhar also criticized the proposed lifetime immunity for the president from criminal prosecution, calling it another “person-specific” provision. He suggested that the changes were made to protect the political, military, and judicial elite, who were more concerned with safeguarding their own interests than addressing the nation’s pressing issues.
The TTAP leaders underscored that the parliament currently lacks the legitimacy to pass such major amendments, pointing to allegations of rigging in the February 2024 general elections. Khokhar further criticized the Supreme Court for allegedly playing a pivotal role in enabling these amendments through controversial rulings, including allotting reserved seats to ruling coalition parties, which helped secure their numbers in parliament.
In response to the proposed amendments, TTAP outlined its plan for a nationwide movement, including a National Consultative Conference to be held in Islamabad. The alliance vowed to oppose the amendment at all costs, calling for rallies, corner meetings, and widespread public engagement to mobilize civil society, the media, and various professional bodies against the legislation.
TTAP also urged judges with a sense of conscience to speak out against the amendment, either publicly or through letters, and emphasized the importance of restoring the Constitution to its original form or initiating a debate for a new social contract.
Meanwhile, members of the ruling coalition, including the PML-N and PPP, rejected the opposition’s claims that the amendment was rushed through without sufficient debate, asserting that the draft had undergone “extensive scrutiny.”
The opposition alliance’s strong stance reflects the growing tension over the 27th Amendment and the concerns surrounding the balance of power and the future direction of Pakistan’s political and constitutional landscape.
