Maulana Fazlur Rehman Urges Correction of Mistakes in 27th Constitutional Amendment

Islamabad: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), has advised the government to rectify the mistakes in the 27th Constitutional Amendment and restore the constitution in its correct form.

Addressing a joint parliamentary session, he emphasized that parliament is a forum for decision-making through consultation, and efforts should be made to avoid making the constitution controversial. He noted, however, that the 27th Amendment failed to meet this standard and called it a “wound on the title of the constitution.”

Maulana Fazlur Rehman recalled that in 1973, even though Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had a two-thirds majority, he still opted for dialogue on all matters. He highlighted that during the 26th Amendment, legislation was enacted and his proposals regarding interest were included, with consensus achieved within a month through continuous engagement with PTI leaders.

Contrastingly, he criticized the 27th Amendment for disregarding democratic requirements, showing political narrow-mindedness, and granting certain privileges that deepened class divisions. He clarified that his objection is to the process, not to any individual or position.

The JUI chief also pointed out concerns in Punjab, where deputy commissioners are allegedly forcing clerics to register with the Education Ministry. He criticized the law declaring Sharia marriages of minors as sexual abuse while considering children born from such marriages legitimate, calling it contradictory.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged the government to acknowledge its mistakes and correct them to restore the constitution. He further warned that laws aligned with Western agendas are being introduced in the country, unintentionally following the path of foreign ideologies.