ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazal ur Rehman has expressed strong criticism over the government’s lack of transparency regarding the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, asserting that any effort to resurrect clauses withdrawn during the 26th Amendment would be seen as a blatant insult to the Constitution.
Fazal ur Rehman highlighted that the government had repealed 35 clauses in the 26th Amendment, and warned that reintroducing any of those clauses through the upcoming amendment would face his party’s staunch opposition. “Such actions are an affront to our Constitution, democracy, and parliamentary integrity,” he emphasized.
He further stated that no official draft of the 27th Amendment has been shared by the government so far, leading to ongoing speculation. “They are maneuvering behind the scenes to secure a two-thirds majority, but these tactics risk damaging the democratic process,” he cautioned.Recalling the implementation issues of the 26th Amendment, Fazal ur Rehman noted that the recommendations of the Islamic Ideological Council (IIC) were initially agreed upon but were never presented or acted upon in Parliament. “If this was the fate of the 26th Amendment, we can only imagine what awaits the 27th,” he remarked.He assured that once the government presents the draft of the 27th Amendment, the JUI-F will review it thoroughly and formulate a clear response along with future plans.
The opposition leader also criticized the slow progress on key issues such as interest-free systems and the registration of seminaries, accusing the government of attempting to bring religious institutions under the Ministry of Education’s control.
On the matter of provincial autonomy, Fazal ur Rehman pledged to oppose any measures that weaken the powers granted by the 18th Amendment. “If there are efforts to curtail provincial rights, JUI-F will resist strongly. The Constitution is meant to expand provincial sovereignty, not diminish it,” he asserted. He also commented on proposed amendments to Article 243, suggesting that if the changes are purely administrative, they may be acceptable; however, if they threaten democratic stability or political balance, JUI-F will reject them outright.
The senior opposition leader reiterated his party’s stance in favor of greater provincial empowerment, criticizing the current assembly’s representativeness. “We have always believed that the current parliament does not truly represent the people,” he added.
Earlier, Fazal ur Rehman met with senior opposition figures, including Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Asad Qaiser, in Islamabad to discuss the country’s political landscape and the upcoming 27th Amendment.Other participants included Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Mahmood, Aslam Ghauri, Maulana Obaidur Rehman, Akhunzada Hussain, and Riaz Ahmed. The meeting focused on the prevailing political climate and parliamentary developments.
Following the discussions, Fazal ur Rehman addressed the media, cautioning against “tampering” with the Constitution. “The Constitution must be respected. Introducing a second amendment within a year raises serious concerns,” he warned. “If changes are forced through, how can the public maintain trust in the system?”
He recalled that his party had previously compelled the government to withdraw 34 clauses in the 26th Amendment, and warned that similar attempts are being made again with the 27th Amendment. Fazal ur Rehman confirmed that the JUI-F has yet to receive the draft of the new amendment and assured that the opposition would present a united front in opposition to any unconstitutional moves.
