Constitution Guarantees Increase, Not Reduction, in Provincial Rights: Fazlur Rehman
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said the Constitution guarantees that the rights of provinces will be increased rather than reduced, warning against any move that undermines provincial autonomy.
Speaking on various political and constitutional issues, Fazlur Rehman said the Constitution was a national covenant and its sanctity must be respected. He alleged that legislation was being carried out without due regard for constitutional principles.
He also expressed concern over what he described as attempts to portray religious seminaries and religious education as criminal activities. He said those who spoke about Islam in Pakistan were often subjected to various allegations and interpretations.
Fazlur Rehman said the public was frequently subjected to fear and pressure, while Islamic legislation had never remained a genuine priority for successive governments. He criticized the tendency of rulers to defer such matters by saying they would be addressed later.
He alleged that a “fake parliament” had been brought into existence to facilitate legislation according to the government’s wishes. At the same time, he said, Pakistan’s defence was indispensable and the country should be made strong.
The JUI-F chief said there were concerns about the intentions of the rulers, particularly regarding the 18th Amendment and provincial powers, which he claimed had become a major obstacle for some quarters.
He said the Constitution stipulated that provincial rights could not be reduced. He added that the creation of new provinces and division of existing provinces would eventually require a new National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
Fazlur Rehman said the opposition should play its role effectively and become organized within Parliament. He said consultations were underway and a declaration would soon be issued outlining how opposition parties would work together in the assemblies, monitor legislation and government measures, and respond to them.
He warned that political divisions were being exploited to the extent that constitutional requirements were sometimes being overlooked.
Fazlur Rehman said Pakistan had a constitutional system in place and Parliament was responsible for working within that framework. If the Constitution were undermined, he warned, a new Constituent Assembly would eventually have to be formed, potentially creating serious political instability.
He said the consequences of widespread disorder in the country could be difficult to predict, adding that once an established system broke apart, restoring it would be extremely challenging.
The JUI-F chief said his party wanted the welfare of Pakistan and sought to restore the constitutional system designed to facilitate legislation in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah to its intended path.
