JUI-F Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman Stands Firm Against Constitutional Amendment in Pakistan
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has dismissed rumors that its leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, supports the ruling coalition’s proposed constitutional amendment. The party clarified that the government delayed the amendment at JUI-F’s request, with discussions set to continue after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Despite recent political activities, JUI-F remains opposed to the amendment, calling it a “disputed” issue. Speculation about Maulana Fazl’s support grew after his participation in a multi-party conference on Palestine and meetings with coalition members. However, party insiders denied any change in his stance, emphasizing that the amendment is contentious and Maulana Fazl will not support it “under the current circumstances.”
JUI-F is open to a separate constitutional court but has reservations about the amendment. A senior official revealed that the party requested the full draft of the amendment, which the government has yet to provide. JUI-F plans to present its proposal for a constitutional court once the draft is received.
Meanwhile, the government is preparing to proceed with the amendment. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) plans to hold National Assembly and Senate sessions on October 18 to table the amendment, aiming for approval on the same day. The ruling coalition seeks to secure a two-thirds majority by gaining support from Maulana Fazl and other lawmakers, including those from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Additionally, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and PML-N are reaching out to Balochistan National Party (BNP-M) leader Akhtar Mengal for support from two BNP senators. Mengal’s recent resignation from the National Assembly remains unresolved, as it has not been accepted by the NA speaker.
Doubts Revealed
JUI-F -: JUI-F stands for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, which is a political party in Pakistan. It is led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman and is known for its religious and political influence.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman -: Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a prominent Pakistani politician and the leader of the JUI-F party. He is known for his strong religious beliefs and political activities in Pakistan.
Constitutional Amendment -: A constitutional amendment is a change or addition to the constitution of a country. In this context, it refers to a proposed change in Pakistan’s constitution by the ruling government.
Ruling Coalition -: The ruling coalition is a group of political parties that come together to form the government. In Pakistan, it often includes multiple parties working together to pass laws and govern the country.
SCO Summit -: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is a group of countries that work together on political, economic, and security issues. The summit is a meeting where leaders discuss these topics.
Two-thirds Majority -: A two-thirds majority means that more than two-thirds of the members in a legislative body, like a parliament, must agree for a decision to be approved. It is often required for important decisions like constitutional amendments.