Fazlur Rehman rejects government’s draft on constitutional amendments

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), has completely rejected the government's proposed draft on constitutional amendments, calling it unacceptable.

Speaking to the media during an informal conversation at the residence of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser, Fazlur Rehman revealed that the government’s original draft had been entirely dismissed after review.

He questioned the credibility of the process, stating, “Now they are claiming it wasn’t even their draft. What kind of game was being played?”

The government and opposition delegations had previously met with Fazlur Rehman to seek his support for the amendments, but he clarified that the proposed draft was not acceptable under any circumstances.

Sources mentioned that former President Arif Alvi and senior PTI leader Raoof Hasan also attended the luncheon hosted by Asad Qaiser.

Fazlur Rehman had received an invitation from Qaiser the previous day, as both sides aimed to discuss the constitutional amendments.

Constitutional amendments impossible without Fazlur Rehman's support: Bilawal

Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has stated that constitutional amendments are not possible without the support of Maulana Fazl ur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl.

Speaking at a local private TV channel, Bilawal underscored the importance of building consensus with JUI-F to advance proposed constitutional reforms.

He revealed that JUI-F is drafting its own amendments, and engaging Fazlur Rehman is critical to moving forward.

“Our effort is to create consensus, and it is important to engage with Maulana Fazlur Rehman. If he agrees, it won’t take more than a month or two to proceed,” Bilawal said.

The PPP leader highlighted that the government has already addressed several concerns raised by his party, and he expects mutual acceptance of proposals from all sides.

Bilawal also mentioned the government’s proposal to set the Supreme Court judges' age limit at 67 with a three-year tenure, while JUI-F suggested a lower age limit of 65.

The PPP is pushing for a separate committee, as proposed by JUI-F, which would involve parliamentary members, judges, and bar representatives in the appointment process.

Bilawal expressed optimism about securing support from both JUI-F and PTI to finalise the reforms.

Amendment highlights

The proposed amendments include key changes to the Constitution, such as the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court (FSC), parallel to the Supreme Court, to oversee constitutional matters. The amendments also propose reforms to Article 63A, which would change how votes by defecting lawmakers are counted, as well as adjustments to the judicial appointment process.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif defended the amendments, stating that they were aimed at addressing constitutional imbalances and reducing the backlog of cases in the judiciary. He argued that the bill was in line with the Charter of Democracy (COD) signed by PML-N and PPP, which calls for broader reforms to strengthen democratic institutions.

The government has vowed to reintroduce the bill once a consensus is reached, acknowledging that the lack of agreement with JUI-F has delayed the process. However, with Fazlur Rehman showing no signs of backing down, it remains unclear when the bill will be presented in parliament.