Fazal Says Military Should Stay Out of Politics

Addressing a workers’ convention in Peshawar, the JUI-F chief said there was still a need to understand and follow the teachings of the Quran, adding that Islam aimed to establish justice in society.

He said the constitutional principle concerning the supremacy of Quran and Sunnah had been established as a result of the struggle by religious scholars. “Failure to implement the Constitution is the negligence of rulers,” he said.

Speaking about national defence, Maulana Fazl said defence capability was necessary in the face of an adversary and that acquiring strength and using it were two different matters. He said his party had never opposed the country’s defence capabilities.

However, he strongly opposed military intervention in politics. “If a political worker cannot interfere in the affairs of the army, then, according to Sharia, the army also has no right to interfere in politics,” he said.

The JUI-F chief also criticised recent legislation, saying its contents appeared to conflict with the Constitution. He said the powers of the prime minister had also been concentrated in one individual.

“Any law that is contrary to the Constitution will be ineffective,” he said, regretting that the relevant provisions had neither been identified nor declared ineffective so far.

Maulana Fazl clarified that his party had no concern with administrative changes within the institution concerned. However, he alleged that powers belonging to parliament had been handed over to a single individual in the establishment.

He said the authority over command and control had previously rested with the federal government, adding that his party was raising the issue on a matter of principle and was not abusing anyone.

The JUI-F chief said he had stressed, during a meeting with the opposition leader, the need for opposition parties to unite around common points inside parliament.

“The opposition should adopt a joint position in parliament so that problems do not arise,” he said, adding that opposition parties were currently holding meetings on the issue.