Jamaat-e-Islami mulls challenging 26th Constitutional Amendment

Hafiz Naeem expresses disappointment with members of opposition who voted in favour of amendment

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Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has indicated that his party is considering challenging the recently enacted 26th constitutional amendment.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Rehman claimed that efforts to influence the judiciary had been ongoing for a long time. He said, "Yesterday, PDM 3 was active. We are reviewing the legal process to challenge the 26th amendment."

Rehman expressed disappointment with members of the opposition who voted in favour of the amendment, urging them not to participate in the process. "Some people are bought, while others succumb to pressure. Half of those in the assembly didn’t even win," he added.

Reflecting on the country's legislative history, he remarked that the 1973 Constitution was created under difficult circumstances. He also criticised the Punjab government, stating that it only provided relief to the public for two months.

Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari officially approved the 26th constitutional amendment, which has now become law following its publication in the official gazette. The amendment passed with a two-thirds majority in both the National Assembly and Senate.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the amendment's unanimous passage, calling it a "shining example of national consensus." He highlighted the amendment as fulfilling the unfinished vision of the Charter of Democracy, initiated by former leaders Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

"The era of dismissing elected prime ministers is over," Sharif declared, thanking Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman for their efforts in advancing the country's best interests. He emphasised that the amendment prioritised Pakistan's future over personal interests and would lead to easier access to justice, securing the nation's future.