‘Fake parliament’ cannot pass constitutional amendment: Maulana Fazl

PESHAWAR: Calling for new elections with real representatives of people being elected to parliament, the newly elected Ameer of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has said that JUI, the PPP, and the PTI are preparing a draft on the proposed constitutional amendment and it will be brought through consensus.

He said that they want the constitutional amendment be passed through consensus.

Addressing a press conference after being elected unopposed as Amir in the intra-party elections of JUI, Maulana Fazlur Rehman explained that JUI-F re-elects its members every five years, followed by elections.

The JUI chief said that despite repeated attempts to steal the mandate, the party remains connected to the people.

He said that the current parliament does not have the authority to pass such a significant constitutional amendment and said that if any amendment made by a “fake parliament”, will be savagery. He also stressed that personalities should not be focus of constitutional amendments.

The JUI-F chief said that there is neither a people’s government at the center nor in the provinces, noting that fake governments exist in provinces and in the centre.

Maulana Fazl urged reforms in the judiciary and the establishment of a constitutional court, but cautioned that fundamental rights should not be suppressed.

Speaking about the current law-and-order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that the province is currently in turmoil.

He said that tribal delegations, including from Kurram, had approached him, stating that conditions were better in tribal areas before their integration. He lamented that the people of FATA and Balochistan are currently facing oppression and unrest.

Maulana Fazl pointed out that the tribal areas after their integration were supposed to receive Rs800 billion but they had not received even Rs100 billion.

The JUI chief dismissed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s recent statement as insignificant, adding that the chief minister should refrain from making such “childish” statements. He criticized the halting of the rallies as undemocratic, stating that PTI should be allowed to hold rallies.

He added that the provincial government should not interfere in party matters, nor should provinces take on one another.

Regarding the Middle East, he urged Arab countries to knwo that Israel was trying to expand the war, warning that the conflict could engulf the entire Arab world.

He praised the prime ninister’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly, saying it proved that Pakistan was still active, and called for five Islamic countries, including Pakistan, to unite on one platform.

Earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that his party rejected the government-drafted constitutional amendment because it sought to curb fundamental rights and give military an expanded role with exemptions