Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has urged the government to postpone any proposed constitutional amendments until after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Speaking at a press conference in the capital on Tuesday, he also called on opposition parties to temporarily suspend protests to preserve political stability during this important international event.
Fazlur Rehman emphasized the need for thorough discussion on the constitutional amendments, drawing attention to the 18th Amendment, which took nine months of deliberation before reaching a consensus. “The government has indicated a sense of urgency in pushing these amendments, but I question the necessity of rushing such significant changes under an emergency,” he said. “If force is employed to pass these amendments, we will resist it.”
He also noted that the government’s control in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan appears to be weakening, urging a shift from political division to unity. “Given the current challenges facing our country, restraint and dialogue are necessary,” he remarked.
Fazlur Rehman expressed further concerns over the government’s handling of religious seminaries, accusing it of spreading misinformation. “If the government has demands, it should also be willing to hear ours,” he asserted.
Addressing political speculation, the JUI-F chief dismissed claims of discord within his party and reaffirmed his opposition to political “match-fixing” and horse-trading. He clarified that no alliance has been formed for joint protests with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
On international matters, Fazlur Rehman condemned Israel’s continued aggression against Palestinians, criticizing the Muslim Ummah’s silence. He described Israel’s actions as “state-sponsored terrorism” backed by Western and U.S. arms and stressed the need for a united Muslim stance.
Fazlur Rehman also highlighted the escalating conflict in Lebanon, where prominent Muslim figures are being targeted, calling on Muslim nations to take immediate action against Israel’s “brutality and bloodshed.”
