ISLAMABAD: As the government seeks to rally support from its allies and disgruntled partners for upcoming judiciary-centric legislation, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that he will not support any legislation that contradicts the Constitution and will remain part of the opposition.
“I am and will remain part of the opposition,” Fazl stated during a meeting with former senator Muhammad Ali Durrani at his Islamabad residence.
His comments come after a period of relative quiet regarding his earlier criticisms of the coalition government led by the PML-N, which he had accused of electoral rigging in the February 8 elections.
In his recent address to the National Assembly, Fazl had said that they had to accept the present “Form 45 or 47” parliament to address national issues.
Fazl’s remarks drew sharp criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which accused him of legitimizing the current regime amid ongoing parliamentary cooperation between the two parties.
Local media reports indicate that Durrani and Fazl had an extensive discussion on political matters and future strategies during their meeting late Tuesday into Wednesday. Durrani also updated Fazl on his political interactions.
Fazl reiterated that the current government would struggle to gain support for any legislation that goes against the Constitution and democracy, asserting that endorsing such a government would only anger the people. “We want to come into power solely through the people’s votes,” he emphasized, warning against any attempt to undermine their mandate.
Durrani praised Fazl for his commitment to political traditions and democratic values, asserting that the JUI-F chief was “standing on the right side of history.”
This development follows recent efforts by the government to placate Fazl, with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif holding separate meetings with him earlier this month to address his concerns.
Before the 2024 general elections, Fazl was a key ally of the PML-N and PPP, leading the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in successfully ousting former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in 2022.
