26th, 27th constitutional amendments 'a blot on the Constitution': Khaqan Abbasi

'Problems cannot be solved by hurling abuses at one another. Today, focus should solely be on the country'

Awaam Pakistan Party (APP) convener Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said the country's misfortune lies in the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, describing them as "a blot on the Constitution" that serve personal interests rather than the national good.

Speaking at the Peshawar Press Club alongside former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, Abbasi said the purpose of politics should be national development and public welfare, not the pursuit of power.

"The country must be run according to law and the constitution; otherwise, problems will not end," Abbasi said, adding that deviations from the law have plunged Pakistan into successive crises. "Amendments to the Constitution must reflect public opinion and serve the national interest," said Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The 26th Constitutional Amendment, passed last year, restructured the Judicial Commission which oversees the appointment of judges and established the Constitutional Bench. The 27th Amendment was passed last month, on November 13, which introduced 59 changes to the Constitution of Pakistan. Restructure of military command, lifetime immunity for the President and establishment of the Federal Constitutional Court were some of the amendments introduced.

He warned that without political stability, economic improvement remains impossible, and expressed regret that institutions are working against each other with hostility. "It is unfortunate that the country's rulers are neglecting the youth," he said.

Abbasi emphasised that the party would not rely on the establishment but would rise with public support. "We do not abuse anyone; we focus on developing and uniting the country," he said, urging all sides to come together to find solutions.

He cautioned that intentional mistakes would only lead to regret and stressed that conflicts and accusations among political actors do not benefit the country. "Problems cannot be solved by hurling abuses at one another. Today, the focus should solely be on the country," Abbasi said.

Reflecting on governance challenges, he noted that whenever the public mandate is denied, problems arise. "If Governor's rule is possible in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, it can happen in other provinces too," he warned, adding that if the pursuit of power is abandoned, provincial and central governments can resolve issues effectively.

Abbasi explained his departure from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, saying he raised his voice within the party but chose a separate path when it abandoned the "Respect the Vote" principle. "Parties run via WhatsApp cannot succeed," he said. "If we valued positions above all else, we would not have chosen a separate path".

He stated that Pakistan must defend its borders and urged the Afghan government to halt aggression from its side.“We have no option but to respond if we are attacked — we cannot remain silent,” Abbasi said.

Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan told the media that national conditions can improve if political parties accept one another and institutions remain within their limits, warning that "political opposition is no longer tolerated".

Mahtab added that the political tension and uncertainty gripping Pakistan has a key epicenter in Peshawar, adding that the current level of political strain exceeds even that seen during periods of martial law.

"After the DG ISPR press briefing, the establishment and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz faced off with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf," Mahtab said, warning that political dialogue in the country has effectively ended. He described the emerging confrontations as damaging to the national interest.

Mahtab is referring to a press conference in Rawalpindi on Friday, where DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry assailed incarcerated former premier Imran Khan, calling him a "threat to national security" and warning that no one will be allowed to incite the public against the armed forces. He said that Khan’s “anti-army” rhetoric has crossed the limits of politics and now poses a direct threat to the nation’s security.

Mahtab criticised recent amendments as serving individual interests, noting that "the new military post is now for life, and the president has been granted lifetime immunity." He called on the prime minister, president, and COAS to take responsibility for ending political tensions.

Read: DG ISPR lashes out at Imran's 'anti-army' narrative, dubs it 'national threat'

"None of the politicians, military generals, or chief justices in the past 78 years have learned from experience," he said, arguing that Pakistan's rulers cannot benefit the country by seeking favor from the US president.

Speaking on the Constitutional Amendments, he stated, "Through the 26th and 27th amendments, a structure has been created that has fundamentally changed the country's politics," commenting that the 2024 government lacks a popular mandate.