ISLAMABAD: In a sharp critique of recent legislative changes, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said Pakistan’s 26th Constitutional Amendment has introduced laws that make citizens feel like “suspects in their own country.”

Fazlur Rehman’s comments came in Peshawar, where he offered condolences on the death of prominent political figure Ilyas Bilour.

“The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are enduring severe hardships,” he told reporters, alleging that the provincial government has placed politics above public welfare. “Their entire focus is on politics rather than on maintaining peace, which is wrong,” he added.

The JUI-F leader criticised the removal of Article 8 during the 26th Amendment, which he claims has opened the door for laws that infringe upon basic rights.

“Following this amendment, legislation has been rushed that violates human rights,” he said. According to Rehman, these laws permit authorities to detain anyone for up to 90 days without due process.

“Such measures have created a climate where people feel like suspects within their own borders,” Fazlur Rehman remarked, voicing concerns over the impact on civil liberties.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 18 2024

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