Opposition warns against constitutional changes by ‘mandate-deprived’ parliament

The opposition on Thursday warned that the current parliament lacked the public mandate and moral legitimacy to amend the constitution or create new provinces, saying any such move would threaten the country's constitutional order.

ISLAMABAD — The opposition on Thursday warned that the current parliament lacked the public mandate and moral legitimacy to amend the constitution or create new provinces, saying any such move would threaten the country’s constitutional order.

“Any such constitutional amendment made by an assembly deprived of public mandate that affects the state structure, fundamental rights of the people or the spirit of the Constitution will not be considered a mere political move but an attack on the existence, unity and constitutional basis of Pakistan,” the opposition said in a statement.

The statement was issued after a meeting at the residence of former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, vice-chairman of the Tehreek Tahaffuz e Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP).

The meeting was attended by opposition leader in the Senate Allama Nasir Abbas, who is also vice-chairman of the opposition alliance, and TTAP spokesman Akhunzada Hussain.

The opposition leaders said fundamental constitutional changes could not be made by what they described as a controversial parliament deprived of a public mandate.

They warned that opposition parties would “strongly resist” any such attempt, calling it an act against the people, the constitution and democracy.

The meeting also expressed serious concern over what the opposition described as secret trials in anti-terrorism courts by the Punjab government.

The participants also discussed in detail the “unjust” imprisonment of Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and ongoing legal proceedings against him.