Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the Constitution provides that the rights of the provinces can be increased but not reduced.
Fazlur Rehman said religious seminary education was being treated as a crime and that religious seminaries were being targeted. He said that when someone in Pakistan speaks about Islam, they are described in terms of various allegations.
He said there was no uncertainty on their part and that they were not facing any anxiety. According to him, the Constitution was a national pact, but even it was no longer being respected and legislation was being carried out.
He said fear was created among the people and the nation was blackmailed, adding that throughout the 79 years, Islam had never been a priority, nor had Islamic legislation been a priority. He said rulers kept saying that such matters would be addressed later.
Fazlur Rehman said a “fake parliament” had been brought into existence to pass legislation according to their wishes. He added that they considered the defence of Pakistan essential and wanted to see the country strong.
He said they had doubts about the intentions of the rulers, adding that the 18th Amendment and the powers granted to the provinces under it had become a thorn in their side.
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He said the Constitution stated that provincial rights would be increased and could not be reduced. He added that when new provinces were created and existing provinces were divided, a new National Finance Commission (NFC) Award would follow.
Fazlur Rehman said these were among the reasons why they had proposed that the opposition should at least properly perform its role as an opposition and become organised within Parliament.
He said consultations should take place and that a declaration on the matter would also be issued soon. He said the opposition had discussed how it would work together in the assemblies, monitor legislation, keep an eye on government measures and counter them.
He said all these matters had been discussed and that there was a need for such coordination. Otherwise, he said, the government had been taking advantage of divisions within the opposition and was not even being held accountable over whether it was acting according to the Constitution.
Fazlur Rehman said a system had been established in the Constitution and that it was now the responsibility of Parliament to follow it. He warned that if the Constitution was ended in this manner, a new Constituent Assembly would have to be formed.
