Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has firmly stated that any amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution that undermines democracy will not be acceptable. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he noted that no official draft of the proposed 27th Amendment has been released yet, making it impossible to comment in detail.
Highlighting the significance of the 18th Amendment in strengthening provincial authority, Maulana Fazl warned that reducing provincial powers would face strong opposition. “JUI-F supports expanding provincial powers, not limiting them. Any reduction in authority is unacceptable,” he said.
Article 243 currently vests supreme command of the armed forces in the President, while the federal government retains overall control and command of the military.
Maulana Fazl also criticized the government for its lack of progress on interest-free financial reforms and improper regulation of religious schools, rejecting efforts to bring these institutions under the Ministry of Education.
Calling for collective solutions to national issues, he stressed the importance of a “natural governance system,” noting that previous amendments, like the 26th, involved cooperation among all parliamentary parties.
The remarks come as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) seeks support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a year after the 26th Amendment. The proposed changes include tweaking Article 243, establishing a Constitutional Court, and revising the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
Reports suggest the government plans to introduce a new designation, “Commander of Defence Forces” (CDF), to improve coordination among Pakistan’s armed services. While the PPP supports certain changes to Article 243, it opposes modifications to the NFC award formula.
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