In Pakistan, the opposition alliance, Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), led by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has pledged to hold protests through all democratic means for the restoration of the Constitution to its original form after the passage of the controversial 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments. The TTAP said that next Friday will be observed as a ‘Black Day’ in Pakistan after judges of the top court in the country stepped down to protest the passage controversial Amendments.

According to media reports, the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill, signed into law by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday, grants broad new powers to Army Chief General Asim Munir, who will now serve as Chief of Defence Forces, bringing the Navy and Air Force under his command. The amendment also creates a new Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) with its own chief justice appointed by the government. This court will handle constitutional matters, disputes between governments, and many petitions previously heard by the Supreme Court. The FCC will now take over key Supreme Court functions, including cases involving fundamental rights.

In a social media post, the alliance group said an emergency meeting was held yesterday and it was attended by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Ali Gohar, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai and other leaders. During the meeting participants unanimously agreed that the incumbent government is not capable of running the country and Pakistan is at the verge of a civil war. In a press release, the TTAP stated that amendments were against the basic structure of the constitution and an attack on the judiciary, which is the fundamental pillar of democracy. Earlier in the day, Justice Aminuddin Khan took oath as the first Chief Justice of Pakistan’s newly-established FCC.