Maulana Fazlur Rehman accepts Article 63-A ruling, but warns against ‘match-fixing’

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that while he accepts the Supreme Court’s decision on Article 63-A, he strongly opposes any form of political “match-fixing” in the process. 

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Fazlur Rehman criticised the government’s urgency in passing constitutional amendments, questioning the emergency surrounding the legislative process.

"We accept the court's decision, but it should not be used for match-fixing. The government needs to explain why there is such an emergency to pass these amendments," Fazlur said, referring to the proposed amendments before the government.

Call for unity ahead of SCO summit

Fazlur Rehman also called on the government and opposition to postpone their respective constitutional amendments and protests until after the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

He warned that internal conflicts during this period could send a negative message to foreign dignitaries attending the summit.

“Internal political disputes should be put aside, and the government and opposition must demonstrate unity,” Fazlur urged, noting that postponing these activities would allow Pakistan to present a united front on the global stage.

Criticism of urgency for constitutional amendments

Fazlur Rehman questioned the urgency with which the government is attempting to pass the constitutional amendments, likening the situation to a legislative "emergency." 

He pointed out the government’s inability to legislate on important recommendations from the Islamic Ideology Council, despite decades having passed since they were proposed.

“There was no rush to implement the Council’s recommendations, but now there's an emergency to pass an amendment in 24 hours? This is not how legislation should be done,” he remarked.

SC ruling on Article 63-A review case: Defecting lawmakers votes to be counted

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has nullified its previous decision regarding Article 63-A, marking a significant shift in the legal interpretation of the clause.

The ruling was delivered by a five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, in response to multiple review petitions challenging the Supreme Court's earlier decision issued in 2022.

The court’s ruling on Thursday stated that the defecting lawmakers' votes should indeed be counted, revoking the apex court's previous judgment.

The court also noted that the detailed judgment on the matter would be issued at a later date, with the bench announcing a unanimous short order.

Earlier in 2022, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court led by then Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial in a narrow 3-2 decision had declared votes cast by defecting lawmakers' as invalid.

The 2022 ruling had come in response to a presidential reference filed by then-President Arif Alvi.

The Supreme Court has overturned its previous ruling amid attempts by the incumbent government to bring in judicial reforms and constituional amendments that require a two-thirds majority in the parliament which the ruling coalition does not have.