Lahore: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has sharply criticised the government’s 27th Constitutional Amendment, accusing it of undermining judicial independence and shifting power dangerously toward the executive branch.
Addressing the Lahore Bar Association at Aiwan-e-Adl, Rehman claimed that the sweeping amendment passed in the Senate with a two-thirds majority was an attempt to reshape the constitution for political control. The amendment, now awaiting approval in the National Assembly, introduces 59 proposed clauses, including controversial changes to Articles 200, 243, and 248.
Under these provisions, the president would gain authority to transfer high court judges between jurisdictions, restructure military command, and even enjoy lifetime legal immunity. The bill also calls for the creation of a Constitutional Court, a move critics warn could erode the Supreme Court’s power and weaken judicial checks on the government.
Rehman strongly opposed the plan to rename the Chief Justice of Pakistan as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, saying it would enable the prime minister to influence judicial appointments.
“Now, the head of the constitutional court will be whoever the prime minister chooses,” Rehman warned. “This is a direct interference in the judiciary and violates the spirit of the constitution
The JI leader asserted that no individual should be placed above the law, condemning the proposed lifetime immunity for the president as unconstitutional.
Turning to economic matters, Rehman dismissed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s claims of progress, arguing that stock market figures don’t reflect the reality faced by ordinary Pakistanis.
“The economy on paper may look strong, but the real economy tells a different story,” he said.
Rehman further accused political parties of hypocrisy in their dealings with the establishment, claiming that their loyalty shifts with their interests.
“When the establishment supports us, we say ‘zindabad’; when it supports others, we say ‘murdabad’. This hypocrisy must end,” he remarked.
He also criticised the Senate election process, alleging that money influences seat allocations, and condemned Punjab’s failure to hold local government elections since 2015. Calling the new Local Government Act “undemocratic,” he demanded transparent, party based polls for local bodies to restore public trust in democracy.
