NOWSHERA, Sept 20: Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been re-elected unopposed Amir of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam for the fifth consecutive term. About 1,230 of the 1,440 executive council members from across the country endorsed his name for the post at Darul Uloom Tehsinul Quran on Wednesday.

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri from Balochistan was elected general secretary for three years. He defeated Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, Dr Khalid Mahmood Soomro, Maulana Gul Naseeb Khan, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Ayubi and Maulana Abdul Hameed.

The party’s constitution did not allow women to become members of the council, according to party sources.

Maulana Rehman told reporters that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would not accept the women’s protection bill in the current shape. He said ulema had already rejected the bill.

In reply to a question, he said the opposition would not take any decision about resigning from parliament in haste.

“Whenever the combined opposition tenders resignations, Gen Musharraf’s team will collapse the same day,” he said.

He said the government’s domestic and foreign policies had failed.

However, he welcomed the peace agreement between the government and militants in North Waziristan.

JUI leader Dr Khalid Soomro informed the council that a record 1.44 million people had filled party membership forms. He said Rs14.1 million had been collected during the membership campaign.