KARACHI: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Secretary General Abdul Ghafoor Haideri firmly declared that his party will not support Justice Qazi Faez Isa during the ongoing constitutional amendment process. He expressed this stance during an informal conversation with journalists at Parliament House.
Abdul Ghafoor criticized Justice Isa’s recent ruling in the Mubarak Sani case. He claimed that the decision deliberately aimed to hurt the sentiments of many Muslims. “This decision reversed only due to public pressure,” he added. He questioned, “How can we support such a person in constitutional amendments?”
Additionally, Abdul Ghafoor voiced concerns about the government’s rushed approach to the constitutional amendments. He stated that coalition parties, including JUI-F, did not receive proper consultation during the process. “We requested negotiations on the amendments, but the government shared the draft with us under an oath of secrecy,” he explained. This lack of transparency alarmed the JUI-F leader.
Moreover, he highlighted elements regarding human rights violations present in the draft. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) also requested access to the draft before discussions, but the government ignored this request. Abdul Ghafoor emphasized the need for transparency in legislative affairs, stating that the current method undermines the coalition’s unity.
Reflecting on the broader implications of the amendments, Abdul Ghafoor noted that JUI-F would form its official stance only after reviewing the complete draft. He made it clear that his party would not compromise its principles for political gains, such as governorships.
In addition, Abdul Ghafoor addressed the establishment’s role in the amendments. He warned that any attempt to make institutions controversial would send a negative message to the public. His remarks underscore the growing tensions within the ruling coalition and highlight the challenges the government faces in the constitutional amendments process.
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Mubarak Sani case
The backdrop to this political discourse is the controversial Mubarak Sani case. Authorities accused Sani of distributing literature that offended religious sentiments, leading to his naming in a First Information Report (FIR) on December 6, 2022, under various sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. The Supreme Court’s ruling on this matter sparked significant outrage among religious groups and raised complex issues surrounding religious freedom and public order.
On July 24, the Supreme Court upheld a petition filed by the Punjab government, asserting that the right to profess one’s faith is subject to legal constraints. The Chief Justice of Pakistan indicated that the case would resolve after thorough deliberation, possibly involving additional hearings.
In light of these events, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) urged the court to reconsider aspects of its decision, which included references to a banned book and the proselytization activities of the Ahmadiyya community. Consequently, the court ordered the expunging of controversial paragraphs from its previous ruling, illustrating the ongoing contention surrounding this case.
Overall, Abdul Ghafoor’s statements reflect a significant rift within the coalition regarding the constitutional amendment process. As the JUI-F stands firm in its opposition to Justice Isa, the government faces mounting challenges in moving forward with its legislative agenda.
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