ISLAMABAD: JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said an impression is emerging that some forces are desirous of amendments to the Constitution. He was talking informally to newsmen late Wednesday night after meeting with Mahmood Khan Achakzai and other opposition leaders.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said there was already an impression that General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa got legislation executed under his supervision to pave the way for his extension. Now a similar impression is emerging that some powers want these amendments by force, he said, adding that what value would the Constitution hold in the eyes of people if the government becomes so weak that it resorts to legislation under pressure from powerful circles.
He said the Constitution of Pakistan is a consensus national document and it should not be made controversial. He said the government, which withdrew 34 clauses of the 26th Amendment, is going to impose the same after one year. “This is being done by force with bad intentions,” he said and added that a parliament which does not enjoy mandate of masses should not cross such limits.
Fazl said so far, they have not been provided with the draft of the proposed amendment and they would adopt a consensus view after calling the party’s meeting along with the opposition. “We have to move forward with regard to the Constitution very carefully,” he said.
To a question, he said that he held dialogue with the government for over five weeks on the 26th Amendment. “Now when the government depends on the PPP, they should also seek time and hold negotiations,” he said.
Fazlur Rehman said that Afghan refugees should not be mistreated while forcing their repatriation. “They should be categorised and particularly those having investments in Pakistan should be allowed to stay,” he said. The JUIF chief said Pakistan did not support Afghanistan for decades to make the country its enemy. He said that if there was terrorism in Pakistan, it was its own internal issue. “We hope that the ongoing talks for peace with Afghanistan reach a positive result,” he said.
Meanwhile, a five-member delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence here late Thursday night. The delegation comprised party’s convener, federal minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, federal minister Mustafa Kamal, Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori, Dr Farooq Sattar and Khwaja Izharul Hasan. From the JUI-F side, Senator Maulana Attaur Rehman, Senator Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh, Maulana Asjad Mahmood and Kamran Murtaza attended the meeting.
The two sides discussed the 27th Amendment during the meeting, the spokesman of JUI-F said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the MQM leadership met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House for consultation on the crucial constitutional amendment.
Later, talking to newsmen, MQM leader Mustafa Kamal said that the party delegation shared its draft of the 27th Amendment with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and sought his support on the same. He said the draft of MQM’s 27th Amendment pertains to changes in Article 140A of the Constitution for devolution of resources and powers to the masses. He said the MQM delegation also shared the same draft with the prime minister and he also assured his government’s support. “This draft is for Pakistan and we hope that all parties will support it,” he said.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori said that the draft of MQM’s proposed 27th Amendment is meant for good governance in the country.
JUI-F leader Kamran Murtaza said that MQM’s proposed bill pertains to amendment in Article 140 of the Constitution. “We shall respond after going through the draft,” he said.
