The ongoing political discord surrounding the government’s proposed ‘Constitutional Package’ escalated on Sunday as the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) intensified its criticism of the Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government. JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman denounced the ruling coalition as a “failure” and called for immediate free and fair elections.
The government, however, is determined to press ahead with the controversial constitutional amendments, planning to seek approval in the National Assembly in the first week of October. Despite optimism from key coalition members — including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — regarding a potential agreement with the JUI-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party remains firmly opposed.
Addressing a gathering in Karachi, the JUI-F leader condemned the government’s alleged disregard for constitutional norms. He accused the ruling coalition of undermining governance and warned against the government’s unilateral approach to the amendments. Rehman emphasised that while his party supports constitutional reforms when necessary, changes must follow due parliamentary processes.
“The Constitution guarantees democratic values, but any amendments must be transparent and follow proper procedures,” Maulana Rehman stated. He criticised the government for withholding details of the proposed changes, raising concerns about their motives. “Neither the opposition nor the public has been made aware of the draft,” he noted, questioning the government’s fairness.
Senior JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also voiced discontent, calling the government a “complete failure” and urging for elections. He warned that the country’s situation could worsen if the government continues its term, reiterating concerns over previous elections where he claimed the people’s mandate had been “stolen.”
In response, PM Shehbaz Sharif’s aide Barrister Aqeel Malik clarified that the amendments were part of an “ongoing process” and stressed the need for consensus before they are tabled in parliament. Malik revealed that some proposed changes, such as those to Articles 8 and 243, had been withdrawn following consultations, but age limits for high-ranking officials were still under discussion.
He expressed optimism that by October, Maulana would come on board with the proposed reforms, as negotiations with other political stakeholders, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, continue to shape the final draft. The government is aiming for a broad consensus, Malik added, stating, “We need to start somewhere.”