ISLAMABAD: Fresh allegations have emerged over the political manoeuvring surrounding Pakistan’s 26th Constitutional Amendment, with claims that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman allegedly received billions of rupees and valuable properties in exchange for supporting the constitutional legislation.
According to sources cited in the claims, Fazlur Rehman, who had initially opposed the amendment, allegedly reached an arrangement with property tycoon Malik Riaz before eventually agreeing to support the legislation.
The claims allege that Malik Riaz paid Rs5 billion to Fazlur Rehman in Dubai as part of the purported deal. However, no independently verified evidence has been provided to establish that the payment took place or was linked to the amendment.
The alleged arrangement reportedly involved the acquisition of a luxury residence in Islamabad and land on the outskirts of Lahore for a large religious seminary. The claims further suggest that the property acquisitions were connected to the alleged financial arrangement.
According to the same claims, the alleged benefits extended beyond Islamabad and Lahore, with Malik Riaz reportedly providing Fazlur Rehman with several valuable properties in Dera Ismail Khan in connection with his support for the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Details and documents relating to the alleged properties have been claimed to be forthcoming. However, the allegations have not been independently substantiated, and no verified property records have been presented to establish a link between the alleged assets and Fazlur Rehman’s political position.
The allegations, if substantiated, could raise serious questions about the political negotiations surrounding the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. At present, however, the reported payment and property transfers remain unverified claims.
