Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has expressed concerns over institutions being granted “excessive powers,” alleging that the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N were stifling democracy.

At a press conference in Islamabad before the sessions of the National Assembly and Senate on Monday, he criticised the coalition government for its amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The government bulldozed three bills in the lower house of Parliament amid the opposition’s protest.

Through the bills, the ruling alliance increased the number of Supreme Court judges from 17 to 34, amended the Practice and Procedure Ordinance, and increased the services chiefs tenure from three to five years.

Fazl added that the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s council had convened a two-day meeting, during which the council expressed satisfaction regarding negotiations on the 26th Constitutional Amendment.

He congratulated the efforts aimed at eliminating interest, as well as amendments related to the Federal Shariat Court and the Council of Islamic Ideology.

The council has also endorsed the passing of an Act for religious seminaries and deemed the measures for bank accounts as “stabilising.”

The JUI-F has declared the recently passed Act pertaining to Islamabad’s jurisdiction as “un-Islamic,” he said and added that the law.

He warned that if any new amendments arise, they would not hesitate to accept martial law and would take their opposition to the people.

Fazl expressed concerns over the “perceived mockery” of Allah’s religion and urged those in power to reflect on their actions. “I declare that I am not bound to implement any un-Islamic decisions or orders,” he said and reiterated that they would not accept such rulings.

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He criticised the notion of declaring Islamic values as contrary to human rights, claiming that only an atheist would do so.

The JUI-F chief vowed to become more proactive and to awaken public consciousness against such actions, ensuring that no one can play with Allah’s religion. He also announced that a “Down with Israel” conference will take place in Peshawar on December 8.