‘Rejected amendments over concerns about military expansion,’ Maulana Fazlur Rehman clarifies

Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while criticising the twenty-sixth constitutional amendments draft, said he rejected the controversial constitutional amendments due to fears of expansion of military rule.

Speaking to the media in Multan on Friday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the proposed amendment provides exemptions to the military and limits the scope of basic rights.

Showing concerns over the secrecy of the constitutional amendments draft, the Chief of JUI-F remarked, “Eventually, they (incumbent government) gave us a copy, but I cannot say for sure whether both copies are identical. We do not know if there have been additions or subtractions in the new version.”

He added, “We told the government that this is merely a headline; show us the actual draft first, and then we will discuss.”

Lambasting the incumbent government, Maulana alleged that modifications in the constitution were introduced to protect the coalition government, predicting, “This government is unlikely to complete its tenure.”

Meanwhile, appearing on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the government will continue to pursue Maulana Fazlur Rehman over constitutional amendments.

The Defence Minister advised JUI-F “Not to doubt the [ruling parties]’s intentions.”