Constitutional amendment be taken up after end of current CJP’s tenure, says Naeem

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said the government wants to install a judicial system of its own choice through the proposed constitutional amendment and the JI categorically rejects any such attempt.

Addressing a press conference at the Idara Noor-e-Haq on Monday, he said maintaining peace was crucial during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference but the JI would not allow the government to continue with its designs behind the cover of the SCO conference.

He said the matter of constitutional amendment should be taken up after the outgoing chief justice of Pakistan has completed his tenure. He urged both the government and opposition parties to shun discussion on the matter in order to ensure transparency.

Rehman said all the state organs, including the army, judiciary, Parliament and bureaucracy, needed to operate within their role prescribed by the constitution. Talking about the issue of independent power producers (IPPs), he said the capacity charges agreement with five IPPs had been terminated. He added that Rs411 billion, spared by termination of the agreement with five IPPs, should be channelised for the public welfare.

The JI chief said that after the recent development, the charges of per unit electricity should be reduced by Rs15. He added that consultations with another 17 IPPs to bring an end to capacity charges should be finalised immediately.

Rehman also appealed to the chief of the army staff to come forward and announce that the IPPs regulated by the army would not accept capacity charges. Highlighting the issues of Karachi, Rehman demanded that the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Sindh government devolve powers to the local government in Karachi as per the Constitution.

He also alleged post-election rigging in the local government polls as well as rigging in the general elections. The JI leader lambasted the Muttahida Qaumi Movement for what he said its dubious role for Karachi and its residents.

He said that unfortunately, the PPP government believed in the system of corruption in the province. He berated the Sindh government, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority and K-Electric over what he termed mala fide practices.

The JI emir reiterated his demand for imposing fair taxation on feudal lords, instead of taking cosmetic measures for farmers and agricultural labourers. Talking about the issue of interest-based economy, he said it was an open announcement of war against God Almighty. He demanded that the government take solid measures to ensure a Riba-free economy as per the orders of the apex court.