MARDAN: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday feared that the upcoming general elections could be delayed due to the current uncertain political situation in the country.

He was addressing the ‘Ulema Convention’ in Gujargari area here, where provincial JUI-F chief Maulana Gul Naseeb, general secretary Maulana Shujaul Mulk, district chief Maulana Qasim, and party leaders and workers were in attendance.

The JUI-F chief asked political and religious forces to be careful about their moves saying the country is passing through a very critical juncture due to happenings on both national and international fronts.

He urged political and religious parties to forge unity.

Asks political, religious forces to be careful about their moves

Mr Fazl alleged that unrest was being created in the country under an international conspiracy.

He asked the federal government to conduct a referendum in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas about the region’s future.

“We are not against the merger of Fata with KP. We just want the government to know the opinion of the local residents on it through a referendum. If the UK, Scotland and Turkey can conduct referendum on such issues, then why Pakistani government can’t do so on Fata’s future,” he said.

The JUI-F chief said China had been emerging as an economic power of the world due to a unique ‘financial ideology’ compared to the capitalist economy of the West.

He said China was trying to boost its financial ideology through the execution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.

Mr Fazl said the enemy was trying to hamper Pakistan’s development and progress.

He claimed that religious and political forces had protected the country against internal and external conspiracies.

Other speakers alleged that the PTI ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had failed to fulfil its election promises to the misery of the people.

They claimed that the JUI-F would form the next government in the province by winning the upcoming elections.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017

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