21st Constitutional Amendment: JUI-F calls new law a ‘suicide attack’ on democracy

Party convenes a meeting to forge an alliance against the National Action Plan and military courts

ISLAMABAD:

Calling the 21st Constitutional Amendment a “blunder” and “a suicide attack” on democracy, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Thursday warned that the legislation would divide the nation.

The JUI-F, a coalition partner of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), threatened to stage a protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk if the party’s concerns were not addressed.



“The amendment passed by parliament, in my opinion, is a suicide attack of political and democratic forces on democracy. It is a blunder which has divided the nation instead of uniting,” said JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman after a meeting with leaders of religio-political parties.

The party had convened a meeting to forge an alliance against the National Action Plan (NAP) and military courts. It had also abstained from voting on the amendment in parliament.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that since his party had reservations over the amendment it intends to consult a panel of legal experts on the issue. The party might decide to challenge the amendment in court.

He announced that a seminar of all national leaders would be held on January 22 in Lahore to forge a consensus on the “discriminatory law”. “The country cannot afford any division in any case.”

Strengthening his argument, the JUI-F leader insisted that terrorists have been given an escape route through this law. However, in response to the JUI-F chief’s comment, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita Committee lashed out at Fazlur Rehman, saying that he was a supporter of the Taliban and anti-Karachi elements.

In-charge Rabita Committee Qamar Mansoor said, “[Why] in the whole of Pakistan he [Fazl] only sees Saulat Mirza and Ajmal Pahari? Everyone knows that MQM activists have been targeted, forced to confess in custody and trialed by the media.”

Moreover, the JUI-F chief skillfully dodged the question on quitting the coalition government, saying “you should ask leader of the opposition Syed Khursheed Shah that when will he be joining the government”. (With additional input from our correspondent in Karachi.)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 9^th, 2015.