Senator Faisal Vawda shakes hands with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman after a meeting at the latter’s residence in Islamabad on Wednesday. SCREENSHOT
ISLAMABAD:
As the ruling PML-N party pushes for consensus on the proposed constitutional amendments, Senator Faisal Vawda met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad on Wednesday to brief him on the draft and seek his views before the party takes a final position.
Fazl, whose party support was crucial for the passage of the 26th Amendment last year, will “consider and understand” the new proposals before making a decision, Vawda told reporters after the meeting.
He said the government was proceeding with the 27th constitutional amendment and had sought advice from the JUI-F chief on its clauses, adding that “the numbers are already in place” and describing Fazl as “a strong and seasoned politician”.
According to the JUI-F spokesperson, the two discussed the political situation in the country and Aslam Ghauri was also present during the meeting.
Vawda sought to allay fears about sweeping constitutional reversals, emphasizing that the 18th Amendment was not being undone.
“It is not about numbers, it is about the survival and security of Pakistan,” the senator told reporters, adding that he often came out of meetings with Fazl “positively” and that Fazl had always supported Pakistan.
In response to a question, the senator joked that while there was a lot of excitement and buzz around the 27th Amendment, “they were already preparing for the 28th.”
He argued that if consensus required further consultations, meetings could be called at any time.
Regarding parliamentary arithmetic, he said: “Where numbers are needed, they will be found,” and welcomed any participation by Fazl in the process.
He described President Asif Ali Zardari as a major political player and praised the “powerful father-son combination” in national politics, referring to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
On the substance of the reforms, Vawda argued that the changes to Article 243, which deals with the command and control of armed forces, reflect contemporary security realities beyond conventional battlefields.
“Article 243 is not just about land warfare; it also encompasses cyber, global economic and hybrid threats,” he said.
He said the amendments would include provisions on postings, transfers and mandates, aimed at strengthening the armed forces in the face of multidimensional threats. Vawda stressed that strengthening Pakistan’s three services would improve national defense.
Vawda urged that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should be taken into confidence over the amendment. “If the PTI is pursuing constructive politics, it should definitely be involved.”
