TTAP reaffirms resolve to restore Constitution

Opposition leaders visit Islamabad Judicial Complex, offer fateha for November 11 victims

ISLAMABAD:

Some key leaders of an opposition parties’ alliance visited Islamabad’s Judicial Complex and offered fateha for the people who lost their lives in a suicide attack last week.

The opposition leader also reiterated their resolve to mark the coming Friday as a black day in protest against passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ain-e-Pakistan (TTAP) leaders Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar paid a visit to the courthouse, which was targeted by a suicide bomber on November 11.

The attack later claimed by a faction of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had resulted in the death of at least 12 people while causing injuries to dozens.

Speaking to the media later, Abbas said “wolves and beasts” were tearing apart the Constitution and people’s rights were being stolen while an “economic massacre” was also underway.

“In this scenario, it is our responsibility to stand against aggressors—whether they attacked the country’s borders or the Constitution,” he said.

Referring to the PML-N led federal government, he said the “Form-47 government” had the Constitution, adding that “those who brought it to power” are also fake.

Abbas said it was time for the nation to rise for the sake of the country.

“God’s curse be upon those who brought the Taliban, and upon those who made amendments to the Constitution,” he said.

Asad Qaiser said they had come to the Judicial Complex to express solidarity with the lawyers.

He said the government was responsible for protecting citizens but was instead busy making cases against its political opponents. He demanded that compensation packages be announced for the people martyred and injured in the attack.

Qaiser claimed that the 26th and 27th amendments had paralysed the courts.

“When the justice system collapses, what path is left for the people? Where there is no justice, there is the law of the jungle,” he said.

He announced that a strong protest would be launched against the 26th and 27th amendments and that a black day would be observed on Friday. He said everyone must raise their voice to protect the justice system.

Qaiser said they had expected the PPP would stand with the people even at the cost of its government and had similar expectations from PML-N President Nawaz Sharif.

“But Nawaz Sharif compromised because of his brother [PM Shehbaz Sharif and daughter [CM Maryam Nawaz]. The supremacy of law and the Constitution can only be ensured under the 1973 Constitution,” he said.

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said no compensation package had been announced for the martyrs of the courthouse attack, and the injured were paying for their own treatment.