PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has alleged that government is promoting western culture and approval of the ‘Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill, 2021 is part of its plan.

According to a statement issued here, the JUI-F chief expressed these views while addressing a joint meeting of his party MNAs, MPAs and members of provincial executive council. He alleged that the law about domestic violence was against Islam and Constitution.

He said the law was tantamount to promote western culture and values rather than Islamic ones. He added that it was an attempt on part of the rulers to keep women away from Islam and it was not acceptable to his party.

Describing the Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan elections as controversial, the JUI-F chief said that the polls were a repetition of the 2018 election, which was not acceptable to the opposition.

He said that rulers were not true representatives of the nation and that was why they failed to take initiatives for public wellbeing so far.

He also expressed his concerns over increase in prices of different daily use items including petroleum products, sugar, cooking oil and other edibles. He said that Pakistan Democratic Movement, an alliance of opposition parties, would continue its struggle to rid the nation of the ‘corrupt’ government.

Earlier, the JUI-F provincial executive council held a meeting with provincial chief Maulana Attaur Rehman in the chair and took several decisions. It decided to hold Mufti Mehmood conference on October 14 in Peshawar and issued schedule for reorganisation of the party and nomination of candidates for upcoming local government elections.

The meeting was also addressed by other senior leaders of the party.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd , 2021