Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has strongly denounced the 27th Constitutional Amendment, describing it as a regressive move that threatens the country’s democratic process.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said the decision to reject the amendment was unanimously agreed upon by the party’s Shura (council), underscoring the seriousness of their concerns.
Fazlur Rehman contrasted the current situation with the passage of the 26th Amendment, which he said was achieved through detailed negotiations and mutual understanding between political parties.
He recalled that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had been actively involved at the time, and their proposals were carefully reviewed and incorporated, resulting in an amendment passed with broad consensus. This, he said, stands in stark contrast to the handling of the 27th Amendment.
He accused the current government of bypassing democratic norms by failing to consult the opposition, claiming it had coerced lawmakers and portrayed a forced two-thirds majority. Fazlur Rehman argued that such tactics undermine the spirit of democratic governance and raise serious questions about the legitimacy of the amendment.
Commenting on the judiciary, he noted that JUI-F had been a principled supporter of the constitutional court, but the process undertaken for the 27th Amendment contradicted both parliamentary and democratic values. He said key decisions were made in ways that sidelined debate and transparency.
Fazlur Rehman also criticized the pardon extended to the president in connection with the amendment, questioning its justification and arguing that it violated established democratic norms.
He reiterated that constitutional reforms should always be rooted in consensus, fairness, and broad consultation. The JUI-F chief warned that actions that disregard these principles weaken democratic institutions and risk setting troubling precedents for the country’s political future.
