Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called for a postponement of the proposed 26th constitutional amendment bill. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday, he criticized the current government, stating it lacks both popular mandate and the capacity for improvement.

Rehman urged the government to delay the amendment until after the conclusion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference. He expressed surprise at the government’s haste in pursuing the amendment, drawing a comparison to the extensive deliberation that preceded the 18th Amendment.

He emphasized the importance of the JUI-F’s vote and demanded to be heard on the matter. While accepting the court’s ruling on Article 63-A, he cautioned against using the decision as a tool for manipulation or vote-buying.

He stated that any future strategy regarding the constitutional amendment will depend on the JUI-F’s stance, clarifying that the party is currently not in favor of the amendment. He also indicated a lack of information regarding any joint parliamentary session. He dismissed the government’s justifications for the amendment as insignificant.

Rehman appealed to the opposition to refrain from protests during the SCO conference, advocating for unity and a welcoming atmosphere for delegates. He reiterated his assessment of the current government as neither representative of the people nor capable of improvement.

The JUI-F leader also highlighted concerning situations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing a lack of government control, the closure of religious seminaries (madrassas) under the guise of propaganda, and the unresolved issue of madrassa accounts being frozen, hindering their operations.

Finally, Rehman expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence in Palestine, condemning Israel’s actions as state-sponsored terrorism and calling on the Muslim world to take concrete steps to secure Palestinian freedom. He highlighted the reported deaths of 60,000 Muslims in Gaza and Lebanon and criticized the silence of the Muslim Ummah on the matter. He stressed the need for a unified Muslim response.