Maulana Fazlur Rehman Discusses Constitutional Amendments in Pakistan
In Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), expressed his willingness to support the government’s proposed constitutional package, but with certain conditions. He mentioned that a suitable draft could be agreed upon if the government’s proposals align with JUI-F’s suggestions.
The constitutional package aims to establish a federal constitutional court and set a three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, the proposal faced opposition from both allies and opposition members, prompting the government to initiate consultations.
After a parliamentary committee meeting, Rehman stated that efforts are being made to remove controversial elements from the draft. He emphasized that the public has rejected the current draft and praised JUI-F’s stance on the amendments. He stressed that parliament should reflect the people’s wishes.
Rehman indicated that JUI-F and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are working towards a consensus draft, which will be shared with other political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He also highlighted the need to restore the 18th Amendment and abolish the 19th Amendment to enhance parliament’s role in judicial appointments.
Rehman opposed politicizing the judiciary and suggested that a constitutional court could serve as an alternative to a separate bench for constitutional matters. He also mentioned the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Islamabad, expressing a warm welcome to its participants.
Doubts Revealed
Maulana Fazlur Rehman -: Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a Pakistani politician and the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), a political party in Pakistan. He is known for his influence in religious and political matters in the country.
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 conservative views.
Constitutional Amendments -: Constitutional amendments are changes or additions made to a country’s constitution. In this context, it refers to proposed changes in Pakistan’s constitution to improve governance.
Federal Constitutional Court -: A federal constitutional court is a special court that deals with constitutional matters, ensuring that laws and government actions comply with the constitution. The proposal in Pakistan aims to establish such a court.
Chief Justice -: The Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary in a country. In Pakistan, the proposal suggests setting a three-year term for the Chief Justice to ensure regular leadership changes.
18th Amendment -: The 18th Amendment is a significant change made to Pakistan’s constitution in 2010. It aimed to give more power to the provinces and reduce the central government’s control.
SCO meeting -: SCO stands for Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is a group of countries that work together on political, economic, and security issues. The meeting is an event where member countries discuss these matters.
PPP -: PPP stands for Pakistan Peoples Party, a major political party in Pakistan. It is known for its liberal and progressive policies and is working with JUI-F on the constitutional amendments.