PKMAP Chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. PHOTO: INP
LAHORE:
Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai warned on Sunday that Pakistan risks further fragmentation if constitutional violations and political repression continue unchecked, saying some regions could be pushed towards declaring secession within months if the crisis worsens.
Addressing a press conference and public interactions in Lahore, Achakzai said the country was facing an “existential moment”, driven not by external threats but by internal injustices, erosion of democratic norms and repeated interference with the constitution. He described the TTAP movement as a final alert, comparing it to an SOS call issued when a ship is sinking.
“Pakistan cannot survive without its constitution,” Achakzai said, arguing that the state had remained locked in a perpetual struggle between democratic and undemocratic forces since its inception. He said successive violations of constitutional principles had weakened institutions, eroded governance and alienated large sections of society.
The TTAP chief stressed that the alliance had not come to “conquer Lahore” but to mobilize public support for an eight-day protest movement centered on February 8, marking what he described as a turning point for constitutional restoration. Despite what he called an atmosphere of fear and pressure, he praised the people of Lahore for welcoming the delegation, calling it proof that public sentiment remained firmly attached to democratic values.
Criticizing what he called selective patriotism, the TTAP chief said loyalty to the constitution was increasingly portrayed as disagreeable, while adherence to power was rewarded.
Referring to the violence and unrest on May 9, he questioned why sensitive installations had been left unprotected and why demands for an independent judicial commission had gone unanswered. He said no democracy in the world had witnessed an entire political party stripped of its mandate through judicial or administrative action, warning that such actions only deepened polarisation.
At the same event, TTAP Vice Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas reiterated concerns about shrinking democratic space and accused the ruling authorities of blocking all avenues for reform. He said parliament had been rendered ineffective and fundamental freedoms curtailed, leaving citizens with little choice but to take to the streets.
“Punjab is known for its warmth and openness,” Abbas said, adding that its rulers should reflect the same spirit. He argued that laws restricting assembly and dissent had created a climate in which peaceful protest was treated as a crime rather than a constitutional right.
Both leaders reiterated calls for nationwide, peaceful protests on February 8, urging citizens across political, ethnic and professional lines to participate.
