Islamabad, September 24, 2025: Mahmood Khan Achakzai, head of the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain-e-Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of Pakistan’s Constitution), on Wednesday announced a campaign of peaceful protests aimed at forcing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government from office.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Justice (retd.) Shahid Jamil, Achakzai said the alliance will take to the streets nationwide and urged action “according to the Constitution” to end the political crisis.
“If we proceed according to the Constitution, we will emerge from this crisis,” he said, accusing the government of widespread cronyism. “There is no merit in Pakistan; jobs are being sold. Whoever sells jobs also sells his faith — and is rewarded.” He criticized what he described as the fall from grace of longstanding political parties, saying even Benazir Bhutto’s party had become complicit in wrongdoing.
Achakzai recalled the origins of the “Respect the Vote” movement, alleging leaders who once championed electoral integrity later sought refuge abroad. He warned the coalition will avoid foul language and violence. “We will not hurl abuses or fire bullets. We will protest peacefully and send Shehbaz Sharif’s government home,” he said.
Outlining mobilisation plans, the opposition leader said demonstrations will stretch “from Gilgit to Quetta,” with coordinated protests across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan and other provinces. Achakzai added the alliance intends to mobilise “hundreds of thousands” of people nationwide to show its rejection of the government.
The announcement marks a fresh escalation in political pressure on the government ahead of planned mass actions by opposition parties. The alliance did not give exact dates for the nationwide protests at the press conference.
