Fazlur Rehman warns against any amendment undermining democracy

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday warned that his party would strongly oppose any amendment to Article 243 or the proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment if it undermines the democratic framework or curtails provincial autonomy, Aaj News reported.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary group, the JUI-F chief said that the government has not yet presented the draft of the 27th Amendment.

“Until the draft is made public, no decision can be taken, but if it includes controversial provisions or reduces provincial powers, we will resist it,” he said.

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Fazlur Rehman said that the government has already failed to implement the 26th Amendment, accusing it of “disrespecting parliament.” He added that during the drafting process of the 26th Amendment, the government was forced to drop 35 provisions.

“If these clauses are reintroduced in the 27th Amendment, it will be considered an insult to both parliament and the constitution,” he warned.

He further stated that his party stands for strengthening provinces, warning that any cut in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award or reduction in provincial powers would not be tolerated.

“The constitution aims to enhance provincial authority, not diminish it,” he said, emphasising that JUI-F will “raise a strong voice” against any rollback of the 18th Amendment.

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Commenting on Article 243, which relates to the command of the armed forces, Fazlur Rehman said, “We will not accept any amendment that disturbs the democratic structure. Article 243 can only be accepted after being reviewed, not without understanding its implications.”

He also criticised the government for failing to act on constitutional and religious commitments, saying that the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology have not been implemented, that no progress has been made toward ending the interest-based economic system, and that the registration process for religious seminaries remains stalled.

Fazlur Rehman maintained that his party never considered the current government to be a true representative of the people, adding that “forcibly forming a majority will harm the political system.”

He said JUI-F would continue to play its role in protecting the constitution and democracy, and that the party might consult with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and other opposition groups to develop a joint stance on the proposed amendment.