Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman strongly opposed the extension of service terms for personnel in the judiciary, military, and bureaucracy during a National Assembly session in Islamabad on Thursday.
He denounced the practice as fundamentally flawed and questioned its legitimacy.
Fazlur Rehman’s comments included a critique of the extension of judges’ retirement ages during General Pervez Musharraf’s tenure, expressing disapproval of the ongoing support for such extensions by those who once opposed them.
He argued that the flawed process of granting extensions could eventually lead to similar demands for extensions within Parliament itself.
Highlighting the inefficiencies within the justice system, Fazlur Rehman criticized the prolonged nature of judicial cases and called for a re-evaluation of the outdated British-era judicial framework.
He remarked on the irony that while the retirement age for judges was raised during Musharraf’s regime, the current climate reflects a desire for “their” preferred Chief Justice to remain in position.
In response, Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq acknowledged the concerns raised by Fazlur Rehman.
While noting that the constitution prohibits discussions against the judiciary and military, he recognized the need for reform. Sadiq emphasized the importance of a balanced approach to address these issues.
Fazlur Rehman proposed the creation of a parliamentary committee to oversee the appointment of the Chief Justice and advocated for the abolition of the 19th Amendment, suggesting it should be replaced with the 18th Amendment to curtail perceived undue influence by the judiciary.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Fazlur Rehman to join the ongoing committee on reforms, currently meeting in Committee Room No. 5, encouraging him to contribute to discussions aimed at tackling the nation’s pressing issues.
