LAKKI MARWAT: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has alleged the PTI was given the power to destroy the very foundations of the country and its economy under a foreign agenda.

Speaking at an election gathering at Children Park in Lakki Marwat city on Saturday, he argued that the country’s economy and businesses were prospering and generating employment opportunities for the youth, but then the PTI was installed, which halted the progress on CPEC, stalling the economy. “The party’s government promised providing ten million jobs and five million houses to people, but even eliminated the jobs available to citizens,” the maulana insisted.

The JUI-F chief asserted that former premier Imran Khan was not sincere with the people rather he was ‘pursuing a foreign agenda’.

Blasting the former PTI rulers, he said people had pinned hopes on them to put things on the right track, but they ‘destroyed’ the country’s economy.

JUI-F leader asks Lakki people to vote for ‘honest’ contenders

He asked the people to remember the time when the annual growth rate of Pakistan had reached six per cent, but then it happened for the first time in history that the annual growth rate went below zero due to the ‘wrong’ policies of the government of former prime minister Imran Khan.

“The former rulers who advanced foreign agenda in Pakistan misled the youth, promoted vulgarity and played negative politics,” he asserted.

Mr Rehman also said the PTI government tried to purchase the loyalties of clerics and payer leaders by offering them Rs10,000 monthly stipend, but the ulema rejected the offer proving they had firm affiliation with JUI-F.

He also criticised the Saifullah brothers, holding them responsible for the deprivations of Lakki residents.

He claimed the JUI-F’s over one hundred years struggle was full of sacrifices. He alleged that after winning freedom from the British Raj, the predecessors of Saifullahs had enslaved the people, depriving them of all basic needs and amenities of life.

The JUI-F chief promised a true welfare state and asked the people to use the right of franchise wisely and elect honest and sincere representatives.

He said people of Lakki Marwat should vote for JUI-F candidates if they wanted to get rid of Khans-dominated politics in their district.

“After the Feb 8 election results the political opponents will not dare jump into the electoral arena in future,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2024