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Tag: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

  • Fazl questions child protection laws as Pakistan battles 19 million child marriages

    Fazl questions child protection laws as Pakistan battles 19 million child marriages

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday strongly opposed recent legislation aimed at protecting children from child marriages and safeguarding the rights of the transgender community.

    On November 13, the National Assembly passed a bill, awaiting Senate approval, to protect people against domestic violence in Islamabad. 

    A day later, the Balochistan Assembly adopted a bill to ban child marriages with a majority, despite protests by opposition lawmakers, including JUI-F’s Younis Zehri.

    In September, Balochistan cabinet approved the province’s first-ever transgender policy to ensure social and economic inclusion for the community.

    Addressing the media in Islamabad, Fazlur Rehman said, “Some legislation has been enacted regarding the marriage of children below the age of 18 years, regarding transgenders, and regarding domestic violence.”

    Speaking about child marriages, Fazl questioned labeling those under 18 as “na-baaligh” (minors), asking which sect’s Islamic laws states this. 

    He questioned, “Strengthening the law to the point that if a marriage or nikkah is done before 18, it will be called sexual abuse and will be interpreted as rape, and a punishment will be given accordingly?”

    He also criticised the Protection of Women Bill 2006, introduced during Gen Pervez Musharraf’s rule to amend the widely criticised Hudood laws.

    Fazl said, “The PPP had voted in favour of that bill, and today as well, hindrances were being created in the way of permitted nikkah.” The PPP is currently in power in Balochistan, where the recent anti-child marriage bill and transgender policy were introduced.

    Fazl described it as a “weird point” and a “joke” that although child marriages would be considered rape, a child born out of it would remain legitimate. “And the father will be bound to pay for its expenses,” he added.

    Regarding the transgender legislation, he questioned the justification for individuals born as a “complete male or a complete female” being allowed to change their gender. 

    “Perhaps, they do not even have as much freedom in the West as we have given them here in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” he said.

    Fazl said he did not “expect” such decisions from the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his party PML-N. 

    He alleged that the new laws followed an “agenda” of the United Nations and described international rights conventions as “slavery.”

    The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill 2025 aims to establish an effective system of protection, relief, and rehabilitation for women, men, transgender persons, children, and other vulnerable individuals against domestic violence. 

    It provides jail terms ranging from six months to three years and a fine of up to Rs100,000 if the offence does not fall under the Pakistan Penal Code.

    According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Pakistan is home to over 19 million child brides, with nearly one in six young women married before the age of 18.

  • PTI delegation meets Fazlur Rehman; Bilawal claims amendments will pass before Oct 25

    PTI delegation meets Fazlur Rehman; Bilawal claims amendments will pass before Oct 25

    A delegation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met Chief Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday to inquire about his stance on the incumbent government’s proposed constitutional amendments.

    The government intends to table the constitutional amendment in parliament after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which is taking place on October 15 and 16.

    The PTI delegation led by Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali Khan included Advocate Salman Akram Raja, Hamid Khan and Raoof Hassan. They discussed the political situation in Pakistan and the twenty-sixth constitutional amendment at Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s residence.

    Speaking to the media after the meeting, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said, “We will review the draft of the 26th constitutional amendment first, and only then can we discuss it. But the government has turned it into a mystery.”

    He said that both JUI-F and PTI believed in the independence of the judiciary.

    Meanwhile, Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed that the government wanted to create a consensus among all political parties, including JUI-F, on the 26th constitutional amendment.

    He predicted on Tuesday that the constitutional amendment will be passed by the parliament by October 25.

    Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Bilawal Bhutto said, “There is no deadline from our side for the constitutional amendment.”

    Bhutto remarked that the government has the option to secure the required majority number under “conscience voting,” adding, “Despite this, efforts are being made to reach a consensus.”

  • ‘Rejected amendments over concerns about military expansion,’ Maulana Fazlur Rehman clarifies

    ‘Rejected amendments over concerns about military expansion,’ Maulana Fazlur Rehman clarifies

    Chief Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while criticising the twenty-sixth constitutional amendments draft, said he rejected the controversial constitutional amendments due to fears of expansion of military rule.

    Speaking to the media in Multan on Friday, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the proposed amendment provides exemptions to the military and limits the scope of basic rights.

    Showing concerns over the secrecy of the constitutional amendments draft, the Chief of JUI-F remarked, “Eventually, they (incumbent government) gave us a copy, but I cannot say for sure whether both copies are identical. We do not know if there have been additions or subtractions in the new version.”

    He added, “We told the government that this is merely a headline; show us the actual draft first, and then we will discuss.”

    Lambasting the incumbent government, Maulana alleged that modifications in the constitution were introduced to protect the coalition government, predicting, “This government is unlikely to complete its tenure.”

    Meanwhile, appearing on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the government will continue to pursue Maulana Fazlur Rehman over constitutional amendments.

    The Defence Minister advised JUI-F “Not to doubt the [ruling parties]’s intentions.”

  • All eyes on Maulana Fazlur Rehman as success of constitutional amendments hangs in balance

    All eyes on Maulana Fazlur Rehman as success of constitutional amendments hangs in balance

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman may win a lot of seats or not a lot, but his political importance stays intact.

    Senator of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Irfan Siddique has said that constitutional amendments cannot be passed without Chief Jamiat-e-Ulema Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s cooperation.

    Appearing on the Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada kay Saath’, Siddiqui stated, “As soon as Maulana Fazl is satisfied, the constitutional amendments will be tabled.”

    Responding to Rehman’s concerns over the constitutional amendments, Siddiqui cleared, “Maulana had no objection to the constitutional court or formula of appointment of judges.”

    In opposition, speaking to journalists following a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaisar in Islamabad, Maulana Fazlur Rehman remarked, “They (opposition parties) completely rejected the government proposed amendments draft.”

    Interestingly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is still hopeful of winning Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s confidence for the judiciary-centric legislation.

    Appearing on the Geo News programme ‘Capital Talk,’ Asif said, “Fazl is a shrewd politician, and we will definitely find a resolution.”

    Meanwhile, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, said that he couldn’t comment on anything regarding the JUIF stance.

    Speaking to journalists at Adiala jail Rawalpindi on Wednesday, he remarked, “All political forces have to unite for democracy. If Maulana is standing with democracy, it is a good thing.”

    To pass the controversial constitutional amendments, the incumbent government lacks thirteen votes in the National Assembly (NA) and nine in the Senate.

  • Next elections will be held in 2029, Tarar responds to Maulana

    Next elections will be held in 2029, Tarar responds to Maulana

    Minister for Information, Broadcasting, Culture and National Heritage Attaullah Tarar said on Sunday that general elections will be held in 2029 after the completion of the current government’s tenure.

    Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had demanded fresh elections in the country.
    Attaullah Tarar said that the parliament is the only appropriate platform for politics in the current situation. “The solution to all the problems in politics lies in negotiations and dialogue,” Tarar added.  

    The federal minister called on Maulana Fazlur Rehman to appreciate the government’s economic policies as they are for the betterment of the country.

    Fazlur Rehman on Sunday demanded fresh elections after rejecting February 8 polls. The JUI-F chief said that the government has no authority to address their concerns.

  • Maulana urges PTI to revamp anti-government campaign

    Maulana urges PTI to revamp anti-government campaign

    Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam – Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that he will join the opposition alliance only when the fresh movement against the government starts on a new platform. The development came during a consultative meeting between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and JUI-F members on Wednesday.

    As per the report of The Express Tribune, Maulana demanded support from the PTI, specifically from its founding chairman and former prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, for his party.

    The JUI-F chief also demanded from PTI during Wednesday’s meeting that PTI form a committee with the authority to negotiate for the protest movement.

    Maulana has also asked the PTI delegation to discuss the “authorised” committee with Imran Khan and present the names of the committee members.

    However, a PTI insider told The Express Tribune that the party delegation will meet Maulana Fazlur Rehman again next week to discuss further about re-launching the protest movement against the government.

  • ‘Sky will not fall if polls are deferred’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman 

    ‘Sky will not fall if polls are deferred’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman 

    Amid the ongoing controversy about the general elections scheduled for February 8, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the Senate’s resolution advocating the postponement of the electoral process aligns with his party’s stance.

    The resolution, proposed by an independent lawmaker in the upper house of parliament on Friday amid concerns about extreme weather conditions and the security situation in the country.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman, speaking on Geo News‘ program ‘Jirga’ before embarking on his visit to Afghanistan on Sunday, emphasised the need for a deferral of polls for the betterment of the security situation. 

    “Sky will not fall if polls are deferred for the betterment of the [security] situation,” Fazl said. He has continued to raise concerns about the security situation in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.

    The JUI-F chief’s visit to Kabul comes at a delicate juncture, marked by strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan due to a surge in terror incidents, primarily attributed to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a banned outfit.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman has consistently asserted that the current situation in the country is not conducive to holding elections, citing multiple attacks on his party in the last six months. The most recent incident was a gun attack on the JUI-F’s convoy in Dera Ismail Khan, where fortunately, he remained unharmed.

    The controversy surrounding the postponement of elections, which have already been delayed, intensified following the Senate’s approval of a resolution seeking to defer polls.

    However, a fresh resolution was tabled on Saturday in favour of conducting elections on February 8 as originally scheduled, leading to the initiation of contempt proceedings against senators involved in the delay resolution.

    Speaking about the motion to postpone polls, Maulana Fazlur Rehman stated in an interview that the Senate resolution supported the JUI-F’s stance on the threats of terrorism, although he claimed to have no prior information about the resolution.

    Expressing concerns about the electoral environment, especially in KP and Balochistan, the seasoned politician urged stakeholders to grasp the gravity of the situation. “People are being threatened through pamphlets warning them against attending JUI-F rallies.”

    Despite the challenging circumstances, Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed hope for improvement and emphasised that his party would participate in elections. He stated, “We are not the ones running away from the elections,” underscoring the importance of talks and mediation while assessing ground realities for discussions with the TTP.

    Addressing the issue of a level-playing field, the JUI-F leader criticised the use of the term for a single party, alluding to shifts in political support. 

    “Yesterday’s blue-eyed boy is also being supported today,” he said without naming anyone.

    The year 2023 witnessed Pakistan grappling with terrorism, internal conflicts, socioeconomic disparities, regional instability and heightened tensions with militant groups along the Afghanistan border.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman, consistently voicing grave concerns over the peace and security situation, recalled previous attacks on his party members. Notably, in September, a blast in Mastung injured senior JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah, while in July, a suicide blast targeted a JUI-F workers’ convention in Bajaur’s Khar, resulting in the death of at least 40 party workers.

    In contrast to the JUI-F’s position, almost all major political parties have rejected the resolution to defer polls, insisting that the general elections must proceed as scheduled on February 8.

  • No issue in delay for free and fair elections, says Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    No issue in delay for free and fair elections, says Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Wednesday that a delay of a few days in the general election will not make any difference. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari also made the same statement a few days earlier.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman said in an interview that there is no issue if the delay of a few days in the election can help in conducting free and fair polls.

    Earlier this week, the PPP co-chairman also said that there is no issue with a delay of about 10 days.

    The JUI-F head also said that he is not backing any political agenda while demanding a delay in the polls, asking that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should consider all the concerns, including the weather conditions in high-altitude regions.

    Postponement of elections also occurred after the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and it’s a valid reason for people to accept a delay in polls, he added.

    Maulana also warned that his party would come out on the streets and protest if the election were postponed indefinitely.

  • Release political opponents, urges Maulana

    Release political opponents, urges Maulana

    In a recent address at the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) social media convention in Peshawar, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of JUI-F, conveyed his desire to see imprisoned politicians released from incarceration.

    He emphasized that political parties need to direct their attention towards internal and external challenges faced by Pakistan.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed his reluctance to organize public gatherings against his incarcerated political opponents, stating that such actions do not befit the current circumstances.

    Addressing the return of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan, Maulana Fazlur Rehman encouraged the nation to welcome him.

    He criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief, asserting that his governance had led the country into an economic crisis. He also pointed out that the pending court cases against the PTI leader could result in his disqualification, preventing him from participating in future elections.

    Maulana Fazlur Rehman further highlighted the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) announcement of elections in January, asserting that holding elections is a constitutional right.

  • ‘Imran Khan won’t return to power’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    ‘Imran Khan won’t return to power’: Maulana Fazlur Rehman

    While talking to the media after attending a training convention as the chief guest at Jamia Uloom-i-Sharia, Jamiat Ulama e Islam (Fazlur Rehman) emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman said,

    “It is out of the question that Imran, who is a product of a fake and bogus election, will return to power again.”

    He further said, “He has been disqualified because of his performance; his disqualification is a direct result of his own rule, governance, and policies.”

    He added that many in PTI are booked in several cases and will have to clear their names from cases pending in courts if they wish to contest the elections.

    While talking about general elections, he raised concerns over holding elections in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at a time when they face extreme winters.

    “In January, weather would be harsh in Chitral, Khuzdar, and other parts of KP and Balochistan,” he said, adding that despite concerns, his party won’t demand any delay in polls.

    The JUI-F is ready to contest elections whenever the Election Commission announces a date, he said, adding that he is against the philosophy of “Caretaker Government”.

    “I don’t recognize the caretaker government because in [this] government, ‘caretakers’ are someone else,” he said in an apparent reference to the establishment.