Restore the 1973 Constitution, Stop Political Repression: Mahmood Khan Achakzai Issues Strong Call for Dialogue and Rights

Islamabad:Chairman of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and head of the “Tahaffuz-e-Aaeen Pakistan” (Protection of the Constitution) movement, **Makhdoom Mahmood Khan Achakzai**, on Sunday delivered a wide-ranging critique of Pakistan’s political landscape and urged the restoration of the 1973 Constitution, saying only a return to proper constitutional rule can end the country’s crises.

Speaking to reporters, Achakzai condemned what he described as the “illegal” support for the current government by institutions that undermine democratic norms. He demanded that parliament be reinstated as the supreme source of power and warned that parties or institutions propping up what he termed a “fake government” were acting against the constitution.

Key points from Achakzai’s remarks:

* **Restore the 1973 Constitution:** Achakzai called for the original spirit of the 1973 Constitution to be restored. He said a simple political declaration in the assembly by major leaders — or a people’s movement — to return to that constitution and free political prisoners, including Imran Khan, would resolve many of Pakistan’s crises.

* **Criticism of Election Irregularities:** He reiterated his long-standing charge that the February 8 elections were manipulated after 9:00 p.m., alleging that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been winning but that electoral results were later distorted to deprive the people of their mandate.

* **Appeal to Political Leaders:** Achakzai urged senior politicians to act on principle. He suggested former prime minister Nawaz Sharif should resign from what he termed a “fraudulent assembly” as a moral gesture, arguing such a move would send a powerful message about respecting democratic legitimacy.

* **Reject Violence, Demand Dialogue:** On regional conflicts, Achakzai stressed that issues such as Gaza cannot be solved by force but require international dialogue. He appealed to global powers — including the U.S., France, China, UN Security Council members and Arab and Muslim countries — to work toward negotiated settlements rather than military escalation.

* **Defence of Provincial Rights and Resources:** The PkMAP chief insisted provinces must retain rights over their resources. He said minerals and development benefits belong to the people of each region — Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Saraiki areas, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan — and should be used for local development, not siphoned off without local consent.

* **Foreign Policy and Neighbourly Relations:** Achakzai urged Pakistan to pursue meaningful dialogue with all neighbours, including India and Afghanistan, stating that productive diplomacy should protect the sovereignty of all parties. He criticised policies that treat neighbouring states as adversaries or attempt to convert them into strategic hinterlands.

* **Rejecting Political Abuse and Media Restrictions:** He suggested that parliamentary motions be used to repeal restrictive laws such as the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to safeguard press freedom, challenging those who claim to support media freedom to back concrete reforms.

Achakzai also reiterated his party’s support for the democratic demands of Kashmiris and vowed to back their lawful aspirations. He called on political workers to remain vigilant and organized to defend the rights of present and future generations.

While pressing for peaceful, constitutional means, Achakzai warned that if political and resource grievances continued to be ignored, popular resistance and mass movements would re-emerge as the only remedy for the people’s disenfranchisement. He emphasised the importance of negotiation and political solutions over military responses at home and in the region.