JUI opposes amendments

Published July 1, 2002

PESHAWAR, June 30: The Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (F) has opposed the proposed constitutional amendment package, stating that the present government intends to turn elected parliament into a rubber stamp.

In a joint press statement issued here on Sunday, JUI(F) provincial chief Maulana Amanullah and secretary-general Maulana Gul Nasseb Khan said the proposed package was a conspiracy against political parties. They said all powers would be vested in the office of president, through the package, whereas the prime minister would only be a puppet.

The JUI leaders charged that the rulers who usurped the rights of individuals for appeasing their American masters now wanted to make the future parliament and prime minister subservient to the Americans.

They said the proposed anti-Madaris ordinance and the present constitutional package clearly exposed the designs of the government against religious and political parties. They asked all the religious and political parties to join hands and turn down the Madaris ordinance and the constitutional amendment package.