Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasized the importance of building consensus among all political forces on Friday, expressing his willingness to support the government’s “constitutional package,” but with reservations.
In a conversation with journalists in Islamabad, Fazl stated, “We can agree on a suitable draft if our proposals are accepted by the government.” The proposed constitutional package aims to establish a federal constitutional court and set the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s (CJP) tenure at three years.
The government previously attempted to present the bill for constitutional amendments, but faced significant opposition from both allies and opposition members, prompting the need for further consultation.
Following a meeting of the Special Committee of Parliament, Fazl mentioned, “We are trying to remove the ‘controversial contents’ from the draft.” He also noted that the public has largely rejected the government’s proposal for amendments, urging that the parliament should not ignore the people’s wishes.
Fazl indicated that JUI-F and the PPP would work towards a consensus draft, stressing that the government should involve other allies in this process. He described the government’s proposed amendments as “unacceptable,” stating that his party would support the constitutional package if their suggestions regarding contentious legislation were considered.
Once a consensus is reached with the PPP, JUI-F plans to share the draft with the PTI, with the PPP then presenting it to the government. He also advocated for restoring the 18th Amendment and abolishing the 19th Amendment to enhance parliamentary involvement in judicial appointments.
Fazl emphasized the need for all political forces to align on the draft, remarking, “If we had intended to vote in favor of the amendments, we would have done so,” reiterating that the current draft is unacceptable.
Regarding the timeline for passing the constitutional package, Fazl pointed out that it took nine months to implement the 18th Amendment, suggesting that a decision on this matter should take at least nine days. He also opposed the politicization of superior court judges for personal gain.
When asked about the establishment of a separate court for constitutional matters, Fazl indicated that a constitutional court and a bench could serve as alternatives.
Commenting on the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting scheduled for October 15-16, he expressed hopes for a peaceful environment and deemed it “inappropriate” to stage protests during this time.
