- JUI-F chief says he was not taken into confidence over 21st constitutional and Army Act amendment draft
- Claims he should have right to appeal in SC against establishment of special courts
Visibly angered over being “neglected”, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman Tuesday blamed the government for not taking him into confidence over the 21st constitutional and Army Act amendments drafts.
Though his party abstained from voting but Fazl expressed his reservations over the new legislation for establishment of military courts.
Speaking outside the parliament after amendments were approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday, the JUI-F chief said that terrorism is not linked to religion and strict measures should be taken to control terrorism in Pakistan but only religious institutions should not be targeted. He stressed that the word ‘madrassa’ should be removed from the bill.
“The government has demonstrated non-seriousness by presenting the constitutional amendments in assembly at a time when its team members were negotiating with us. Pakistan is an Islamic state and we won’t allow anybody to turn it into a secular state,” he said.
Fazl’s party had moved amendments in constitutional amendment bill and the military court amendment bill and threatened to oppose the amendments. The government did not fully agree with his amendments although efforts were made by the prime minister and his team to pacify the JUI-F chief.
Fazl said that such bills might cause a divide among the people, alleging that various groups were being treated discriminately under 21st Constitutional Amendment Bill and the Army Act Amendment. He berated the government for acting “immaturely” and “getting the bill approved during negotiations”.
The JUI-F chief said he should have the right to submit a petition in the Supreme Court against the establishment of special courts.
Ijazul Haq on the other hand said he went to visit Fazl on the request of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar where he addressed Fazl’s reservations adding that amendment would prove beneficial to the state.