The government has encountered a significant obstacle as Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), has firmly dismissed the proposed constitutional amendments and outlined his party’s position on the matter.
On Wednesday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman attended a luncheon meeting at the residence of PTI leader Asad Qaiser. The gathering, hosted by Qaiser, was convened to discuss the progress of the constitutional amendment process.
After the meeting, Asad Qaiser announced that Maulana Fazlur Rehman had rejected the draft amendments entirely.
The luncheon, held in honor of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, was attended by former President Arif Alvi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, and other PTI leaders.
In response to a journalist’s inquiry, Maulana Fazlur Rehman mentioned he had accepted the luncheon invitation because Asad Qaiser had “fed him well.”
Sources reveal that the meeting also covered the broader political situation, including the possibility of unity between the two parties. The PTI legal team briefed attendees on their discussions with the PTI founder.
Following the meeting, Maulana Fazlur Rehman reiterated his rejection of the draft constitutional amendments. He emphasized that both parties had agreed to resolve issues through further consultation.
Asad Qaiser expressed concern over the nation’s current state, particularly the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He underscored the importance of opposition unity and announced a lawyers’ convention in Lahore the following day to discuss suggestions.
Qaiser also confirmed that PTI and JUI-F would collaborate in Parliament. Maulana Fazlur Rehman supported this view, asserting that the JUI-F outright rejects the government’s bill and demands alternative proposals for review.
Rehman criticized the proposed amendments as a betrayal of national trust, declaring that supporting the government’s draft would be an unacceptable compromise.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan noted that the draft in circulation was not the final version, and both parties had rejected it. He added that there was no victory or defeat in politics and clarified that a statement attributed to Maulana Fazlur Rehman in prison was unrelated to the PTI founder.
