Establishment Must Remain Within Constitutional Limits, Not Rule by Force: Mahmood Khan Achakzai

Quetta: Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and head of the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aeen-e-Pakistan, **Mahmood Khan Achakzai**, has warned that **Pakistan cannot survive without adherence to the Constitution**, urging all political parties, institutions, and social forces to agree on a **new national social contract** based on constitutional principles and mutual consent.

In an exclusive interview with a private TV channel, Achakzai said that **if the establishment is truly loyal to Pakistan, it must act within the constitutional framework**. “Power through the stick will destroy the country,” he warned, emphasizing that **no institution or individual can stand above the Constitution**.

He said the **state, political parties, and judiciary** must jointly commit to protecting democratic and constitutional order. “If the Constitution’s spirit is ignored, the nation will face irreversible destruction,” Achakzai cautioned, urging the formation of a **national convention** including political leaders, the military, judiciary, journalists, and economic experts to devise a shared national agenda.

The PkMAP chief criticized past **“fifth province” and “strategic depth” policies**, calling them obsolete and damaging to regional stability. “It is time these ideas are buried forever,” he asserted, holding **Russia, the United States, and their allies responsible for Afghanistan’s devastation** and urging them to contribute to the country’s reconstruction.

Achakzai also took aim at major political parties, saying **the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement)** should not serve as a mere tool for power replacement. “If its goal is only to replace one ruler with another, I will not be part of it. But if the aim is constitutional and democratic reform, I am ready to join,” he said.

He criticized political silence and inaction on constitutional issues, questioning the credibility of parliament, the Senate, and provincial assemblies. He urged **Nawaz Sharif and other senior leaders** to clarify their positions on five key constitutional points — **sanctity of vote, supremacy of parliament, institutional limits, equitable resource distribution, and regional harmony**.

Achakzai praised **Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari** for some of his democratic initiatives but stressed that **if the PPP truly follows Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s ideology, it must stand for constitutional supremacy**.

Calling the **current disregard for mother-tongue education, basic rights, and poverty alleviation “shameful”**, Achakzai said 45% of Pakistan’s population lives below the poverty line, yet national resources are not being justly distributed.

He concluded by warning that **any attempt to rule through force or beyond constitutional boundaries will push Pakistan toward chaos**, emphasizing: “The Constitution is not a piece of paper—it is the soul of the state. Only by upholding it can Pakistan move toward peace, justice, and stability.”