JUI-F chief Fazl says JUI-F has rejected 27th Amendment

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Tuesday that the party had rejected the 27th constitutional amendment, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said that the JUI-F members of the parliament (MPs) had opposed the 27th Amendment. “The government completed the required numbers by enlisting the support of MPs of other political parties,” he added.

Fazl said that he had a detailed discussion with the government on the 26th Amendment. “However, the promises that had been made to us by the government at that time were not incorporated in the 27th Amendment,” he said, adding, “What happened was the negation of parliament and democratic values.”

The JUI-F chief further said that it was unfortunate that those things which the government agreed not to incorporate in the 26th Amendment were made part of the 27th Amendment by hook or crook. “We support the constitutional court. But there ought to have been a consensus on it,” he asserted.

Fazl recalled that when the constitution of 1973 was passed, the PPP had two-third majority in the parliament. “Still, the opposition was taken on board,” he said, and added but this time, the PPP, in complete violation of democratic rules and norms, voted in favour of the 27th Amendment.

The JUI-F chief went on to say there was a confusion as to who was the chief justice of Pakistan after the passage of the amendment.

Reporter: Usman Khan