PTI claims Fazl won’t support constitutional court plan

Following reports that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman supported the government’s proposal for a constitutional court, a PTI delegation met with him on Thursday, asserting that he would never endorse such a constitutional amendment.

Despite these claims, the JUI-F has not issued an official statement clarifying or disputing Rehman’s position.

On Wednesday, during a meeting with senior TV anchors at his residence, Rehman had suggested he might back the proposed establishment of a constitutional court and other judiciary reforms, including limiting the tenure of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to three years.

Media reported that he did not outright reject the government’s proposals, he emphasized that any changes should not be person-specific and expressed a desire to persuade the main opposition party, PTI, to consider the matter. He also urged caution and advised against rushing the proposed constitutional amendments.

The federal government has recently made an attempt to pass the controversial package in the National Assembly, but failed due to its inability to secure the required two-thirds majority.

The controversial constitutional package proposed a constitutional amendment to fix the CJP’s tenure to three years while, increasing the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 23.

However, it was not presented in parliament as the government couldn’t convince Maulana Fazl to secure JUI-F’s support, which was necessary to meet the majority threshold.

After Thursday’s meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PTI leader Salman Akram Raja and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza held a press conference, refuting claims that Rehman supported the proposed constitutional court.

Salman Akram Raja stated, “A misleading impression has been created in the media suggesting that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has endorsed the so-called ‘puppet court’ (constitutional court).” He emphasized that Rehman would not support the government’s plan.

He further noted that the Maulana will not support any initiative that threatens the independence of the judiciary.

Farooq H. Naek, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), disclosed that the council has drafted suggestions based on the government’s constitutional package. The PBC intends to submit this draft to the government in the coming days.

Naek emphasised that he had requested Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to provide the draft of the package so the PBC could offer its feedback. Expressing his support for the establishment of a constitutional court, he noted that such courts are present around in many democratic countries.

On a lighter note, Naek added, “The Supreme Court serves the people, while the proposed constitutional court will cater to the elite.”