Fazl says rejected constitutional amendment for curbing rights, expanding military role

MULTAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has 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.

Speaking to the media in Multan, he said that the government said it was withdrawing proposals to extend the tenure of judges and increase their number. However, there is still a proposal to establish a federal constitutional court, for which the JUI’s support was being sought. He clarified that they told the government that this is merely a title, and they will only discuss it once the full draft is shown.

He said that initially, the government was unwilling to provide any draft. “They gave one copy to the Pakistan People’s Party and eventually provided one to us. However, it was unclear whether the new copy included additions or if certain clauses had been removed. The government expected the House to support them without proper preparation,” he said.

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Rehman noted that the JUI’s legal team reviewed the draft, and they were disappointed. While the constitution protects the rights of every citizen, the proposed amendment sought exemption for the military, expanding its role while limiting fundamental rights. The exemption clauses had been extended, and the chapter on human rights in the constitution had been curtailed.

The JUI-F chief said that the draft also included provisions related to the appointment and transfer of judges, which will greatly affect the judicial system. These provisions allow for the transfer of judges or cases from one judge to another, which could undermine judicial independence.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the country’s politics have become a transaction of interests, but the JUI-F has always stood for principles and the nation, rejecting any proposals that go against human rights.

He said that at the time the draft was presented to them, the government did not have a majority to approve it, and the approval process depended on the JUI’s support. However, the JUI-F made it clear that they were not satisfied and could not approve the draft.

He revealed that he and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari agreed to jointly draft a proposal that both parties could review and reach a consensus on.

He said that constitution-making is the responsibility of Parliament, and they would not tolerate any restrictions on it. He warned that if the balance of power between institutions is not maintained, it could harm the country.

Fazlur Rehman stressed that every institution should operate within the limits defined by the constitution. Reflecting on the past, he recalled times when no one was willing to listen against the army, but now, it seems that no one is ready to listen in favour of them. He expressed sadness over this shift, saying that if institutions worked within their constitutional limits, the country would become stronger and the people would feel more confident.

He said that they have begun working on their own draft, which will take around 10 days to complete.