Fazl warns against 'forced tweaks'

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday blasted the country's political order, questioning the legitimacy of the federal government's rule based on "fake mandate" and warned against "unconstitutional lawmaking".

He also appeared to throw his weight behind the beleaguered Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), questioning the rationale behind its founder, Imran Khan's incarceration, and barring his party and friends from meeting him.

Speaking to the media in Chakwal, the Maulana lashed out at the ruling dispensation for lacking a genuine public mandate and governing on the basis of "electoral manipulation".

"They do not possess a real mandate. They are running the country on a fake mandate," he alleged, adding that despite this, the government effectively belonged to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) merely provided support.

"This is not even a fake majority government. It is a fake minority government."

The JUI-F chief warned that legislation carried out in violation of the Constitution amounted to rebellion against the constitutional order, automatically stripping such a government of its legitimacy. "When laws are made against the Constitution, it is tantamount to rebellion, and their mandate comes to an end on its own," he said.

He stressed the need for mutual consultation to develop a united national stance on sensitive issues.

Commenting on the continued denial of meetings with the incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, he said it was regrettable in a democratic system. "I even question why he has been arrested," he said, adding that he neither supported the arrest of politicians nor restrictions on meetings.

Referring to ongoing whispers regarding a proposed 28th constitutional amendment and the creation of new provinces, he said there was a clear disconnect between principle and ground realities.

Drawing parallels with the merger of the erstwhile FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he reminded that his party had opposed the move with reasoned arguments and warned of its consequences, but those in power dismissed dissent. He noted that the same people now conceded that the FATA merger was a mistake, even as fresh talk emerged about dividing other provinces.