'Fake' parliament lacks mandate for constitutional amendment: Fazl

• JUI-F supremo reiterates demand for fresh elections.
• Says JUI-F, PTI and PPP to share draft amendments.
• Politico advocates allowing PTI to hold public rallies.

After being re-elected as the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief for five years, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has slammed the incumbent government, saying that the "fake parliament" lacks a real mandate for a major constitutional amendment.

"We want a fresh [general] election," Fazl said while addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the party's intra-party poll in Peshawar on Sunday. "This parliament does not deserve this huge constitutional amendment."

The government pushed the proposed constitutional package amid speculation about a potential extension in the tenure of Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, who is set to retire in October this year, following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) request last month for the early issuance of a notification regarding the appointment of the next top judge.

The ruling coalition left no stone unturned to woo Fazl, with leaderships of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) holding a flurry of meetings with the cleric, but to no avail.

Detailing ongoing consultations with the PPP and the major opposition party — PTI, he said that the JUI-F and the said parties would share their draft amendments.

The cleric stressed that such amendments should be brought forward which provides relief to the masses and strengthen democracy without compromising the sovereignty of parliament. "Judicial reforms should not be individual-centric."

The politico, who led the previous multi-party alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — that successfully ousted former prime minister Imran Khan from office in April 2022, criticised the government for disallowing the Imran-founded party to hold public gatherings and called it an undemocratic step.

He added that the PTI should be given permission to hold power shows.

However, he slammed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s threatening tone and termed it a "childish attitude".

He was referring to Gandapur's comment on recent clashes between PTI workers and the police during the Rawalpindi protest rally in which the KP chief executive threatened that his party would respond to every bullet, tear gas shell, and baton strike against its supporters.

Fazl flays Israeli attacks on Lebanon

Moreover, the cleric strongly condemned the Israeli fierce attacks on Lebanon that saw the martyrdom of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. 

He said that Israel achieved the second biggest target [after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's martyrdom] to hit the Palestinian movement.

He added that despite Nasrallah's martyrdom, "Jihad will be continued till the independence of Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Fazl warned that the fire that erupted in Lebanon by Israel could engulf the entire world. The politico urged the Arab countries to devise a combined defence system, otherwise, the flames of war would affect all of them.

Prior to his press conference, Maulana Fazl was re-elected unopposed as the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief for a five-year tenure as the politico-religious party held its intra-party polls.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri was also elected unopposed for another term as the JUI-F secretary-general.

According to the party's spokesperson, the election was held during a general council meeting at Mufti Mehmood Markaz, Peshawar.

The meeting was attended by nearly 1,500 general council members from across the country, added spokesperson Aslam Ghauri.

PM congratulates Fazl on reelection

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif extended his congratulations to Maulana Fazl on his unanimous and unopposed election as president of JUI-F for the upcoming five-year term.

In his congratulatory message, the prime minister remarked that under Fazl's leadership, JUI-F has always effectively represented the people.

He emphasised that Fazl's election as the head of JUI-F will foster democratic values, also acknowledging his significant role in reinforcing the supremacy of parliament in the country.

The prime minister expressed confidence that the cleric's leadership and vision would undoubtedly elevate the JUI-F to new heights.

Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz also congratulated Maulana Haideri on his election as the party's secretary-general.