DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that his party has partially accepted the Supreme Court’s judgement on the issue of reserved seats, showing goodwill towards the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

After meeting members of the JUI-F’s district Majlis-i-Shura here, Mr Fazl told reporters that only constitutional experts could provide a definitive opinion about the apex court’s ruling to overturn the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision about the assembly seats reserved for women and religious minorities.

He said that he hoped that the development would lead to better relations between his party and the PTI.

The JUI-F chief said that his party won’t challenge the verdict, but its members directly affected by it could exercise their right to appeal.

He called for snap elections, insisting the current system is unable to move the country forward.

Fazl calls for snap polls in country

Mr Fazl urged the military establishment not to interfere in the sought-after polls.

“The Feb 8 general elections were massively rigged, so we demand snap elections in the country in a free and fair manner,” he said.

The JUI-F emir rejected the new federal budget, saying it has failed to provide any relief to the people from inflation and ensure provision of basic goods and services to them.

He complained that the federal government was dissolving its several departments without taking parliament into confidence.

Mr Fazl said that the military establishment wanted the national and provincial assemblies to function as per its desire without realising that such approach negated its commitment to the country’s cause and was weakening the country.

“They [establishment] are not practicing what they preach. Their job is neither to contest elections nor intervene in them,” he said.

The JUI-F chief claimed credit for parliament’s Sept 7, 1974, declaration that Qadianis are non-Muslims.

He said that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and therefore, no law could be made here against the Quran and Sunnah.

Mr Fazl said that unfortunately, Islamic teachings weren’t implemented in the country and whenever his party pointed it out, authorities didn’t pay heed.

He said that the JUI-F would hold a rally in Lahore on Sept 7 on the issue of the finality of the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with workers showing up from all over the country in large numbers.

The JUI-F chief claimed that the children got the best education in mosques and seminaries.

On the occasion, JUI-F district emir Maulana Lutfur Rehman said that the current system of governance was not strengthening the economy.

“The current system is neither suitable for the elimination of unemployment nor is it meant to alleviate poverty,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2024