NOWSHERA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Mau­lana Fazlur Rehman has ac­­cused the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) of hatching conspiracies against democracy and democratic institutions in the country. But, he said, political forces of the country would not allow the PTI to derail the system.

Addressing his party’s youth convention here on Thursday, he said that cases related to Panama Papers were in the court and, therefore, there was no justification to give a call for the lockdown of Islamabad on Nov 2 on the issue.

The Maulana criticised PTI chief Imran Khan for what he called his stubbornness and said he would achieve nothing from such protests. The lockdown of the federal capital was dangerous for the system, he added.

He alleged that during its three-month-long Islamabad sit-in in 2014, the PTI promoted obscenity. “Change can’t be brought through dance and songs. Imran Khan has failed to make any positive example in politics and he just wants to abuse other politicians,” he added.

The JUI-F chief said change could be brought through parliament and for it a democratic role was needed. He said the role of religious leaders in Pakistan could not be ignored.

He said the country was passing through a critical time and it was the need of the hour to show political maturity. Indian forces were killing innocent Kashmiris and despite human rights violations in held Kashmir international community was supporting India, he said, adding that this was the time for all political parties of the country to shun their differences and support the Kashmiri people. He said that at a time when a black day was being obser­ved in India-held Kashmir and Kashmiris were protesting against Indian brutalities, the PTI’s plan to create anarchy in the country was unjustified.

The JUI-F chief said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shoul­d not be afraid of PTI’s protests.

He said it was strange that the PTI chief, who himself owned an offshore company, was launching protest over the issue of Panama Papers. He accused the PTI’s provincial government in Khyber Pakhtun­khwa of having been invol­ved in massive corruption.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2016