“Even the Caliphs Appeared Before Courts — Why Should the President Be Exempt?”: JI Chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman

Lahore: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer **Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman** has strongly criticized the **27th Constitutional Amendment**, calling it **un-Islamic and against the spirit of the Constitution of Pakistan**.

Speaking at the **Lahore Bar Association, Aiwan-e-Adl**, where he received a warm welcome from the legal community, the JI chief said the **current government is distorting the Constitution**, but his party will “restore it to its original form, Insha’Allah.”

Hafiz Naeem said that even during the **26th Amendment**, Jamaat-e-Islami’s stance remained consistent in defending the Constitution. “We stood by the Constitution then, and we stand by it now,” he asserted.

He criticized the government’s move to **replace the title of Chief Justice of Pakistan with Chief Justice of the Supreme Court**, saying that the **Prime Minister’s control over the appointment** of the new “Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court” undermines judicial independence.

“The Judicial Commission now has a government majority, whereas previously judges held the majority,” he added.

Citing Islamic principles, Hafiz Naeem remarked, “The Constitution states that sovereignty belongs to Allah Almighty. This 27th Amendment contradicts both the Constitution and Islamic teachings. No one is above the law — even the Rightly Guided Caliphs appeared before courts. The Constitution of Pakistan must be restored to its true form.”