KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, led by Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has called for a full court bench to hear its petition challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment in the Supreme Court.
Rehman argued that this amendment undermines the 1973 Constitution, threatening the democratic foundations of Pakistan.
Speaking at a press conference at Noor Haq Institute, he asserted that the Assembly, formed under Form 47, does not possess the authority to alter the Constitution’s structure. According to Rehman, the amendment, particularly in the context of judicial reforms, has politicized the judiciary, eroding its independence and opening doors for corruption.
Rehman also voiced strong criticism of the government’s privatization policies, describing them as a “national tragedy.”
He condemned the sale of state-owned enterprises, particularly Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and K-Electric, accusing the ruling elite of using these assets for personal gain at the expense of the public.
The JI leader highlighted that PIA’s estimated assets exceed 152 billion rupees, yet alleged mismanagement and undervalued sales have pushed the airline into financial ruin. He also highlighted the deteriorating condition of K-Electric, attributing its troubles to poor handling and privatization at unfairly low prices.
Furthering his critique, Rehman pointed to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), asserting that their policies burden the nation with over 2,000 billion rupees annually.
He called the dollar-based generation tariffs granted to K-Electric “the worst form of privatization,” depleting public resources and raising energy costs. Rehman stated that JI would continue to oppose corruption and advocate for transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public assets.
