Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while addressing a press conference on October 17 along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, had an apparent slip of the tongue when he said: “This is such a significant amendment that there is a big name behind it and that name is…”
As soon as Maulana said those words, everyone burst into laughter, including PTI’s Asad Qaiser, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Omar Ayub, and Sheikh Waqas Akram.
Maulana, while smiling, then stated: “Wait a minute… That man can be Mohsin Naqvi.”
Last night, the JUI-F chief warned of suspending talks on the highly anticipated constitutional amendment with the government amidst undue pressure on his party members.
“We are engaging with the government with absolute open-heartedness, but sadly, we are receiving reports of pressure being exerted on our members while both PTI and BNP members are being intimidated,” said Fazl.
“If these tactics continue, they will be compelled to stop negotiations,” warned Fazlur Rehman.
The JUI-F chief further said that if the government chooses to talk with them reasonably, then his party would answer politely; however, if the government uses thuggery to speak with them, then they would receive their reply in the same tone and tenor.
In the past few weeks, the coalition government has been consistently engaged with the JUI-F Chief to convince him of the proposed constitutional amendments, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto at the forefront of the negotiations.
Maulana acknowledged the positive role played by PTI, saying, “they have accepted what is feasible and agreed to continue consultations today (Friday).”
Furthermore, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated: “Despite these issues, we have participated in every meeting to ensure the draft is presented before us.”
On October 16, PTI member Meher Bano Qureshi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that her sister-in-law, the wife of PTI MNA Zain Qureshi, was abducted from near their home by “masked men in plain clothes and multiple cars.”
“They have not been able to break us for the last year and half despite all kinds of threats and are now resorting to such low level tactics. Mine & my family’s faith in Allah is unbreakable. He will see us & Pakistan through this fascism,” she wrote.
A few hours later, Qureshi posted a photo with the caption: “Alhamdulillah, she’s home. Thank you for your prayers and support!”
However, Meher Bano Qureshi was not the only one to complain about the sudden ‘disappearance’ and ‘abduction’ of lawmakers and their family members.
Chairman Balochistan National Party (BNP) Akhtar Mengal also posted on X, “My party Senator Naseema Ehsan is confined to her apartment, and her son has been abducted. Meanwhile, my party’s other Senator Qasim Roonjo, who went for his dialysis at 8 a.m. in Islamabad, has been untraceable along with his son since then. Is this what democracy looks like?!!!”
The BNP leader warned last week that “undemocratic methods” were being employed to enforce the upcoming constitutional amendments.
