PESHAWAR, Sept 24: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday demanded a Supreme Court inquiry into Friday’s riots, which caused death and destruction in different parts of the country.

Mr Rehman told a news conference at his party’s provincial headquarters here that the nation had expressed unprecedented unity on Yum-i-Ishq-i-Rasool, but some elements sabotaged the event to tarnish the international image of Pakistanis by resorting to violence.

“We strongly condemn violence and ransacking of properties and express solidarity with the families, which lost members in the countrywide riots on Friday,” he said.

The JUI-F chief proposed that the Supreme Court conduct inquiry into the riots through an independent commission.

He said some elements were bent upon violence to sabotage national unity which was observed for the first time in the country.

Mr Rehman said President Zardari should not only highlight the issue of blasphemy in the United Nations General Assembly’s next session, but also take up the matter at all international forums.

He said Pakistanis had expressed anger against the US on Friday and that meant that anti-Americanism had greatly increased in the country. He asked the government to give up policies of the former military dictator and revamp its foreign policy in light of the recommendations of parliament.

“Pakistan People’s Party is still following the policies of the military regime as major decisions are being made outside parliament,” he said.

The JUI-F chief said the Supreme Court chief justice recently observed that parliament was losing its supremacy and that was a matter of great concern for everyone.

When asked about the announcement of bounty by federal minister for railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour on the head of the maker of an anti-Islam, he said the minister, who was his close friend, was a very simple person.

“I’ve yet to go through Mr Bilour’s statement and that was why, he could not comment on it. Amazingly, his own party (Awami National Party) didn’t own it,” he said.

About restoration of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Mr Rehman said the alliance was intact, but Jamaat-i-Islami could not become part of it.

He said JUI-F and three other religious parties were in MMA, while membership of Jamaat-i-Islami stood suspended.

“Jamaat-i-Islami has missed the bus. It can only make seat adjustment with MMA in the next elections,” he said, adding that JI had sufficient time to decide about rejoining the alliance, but it failed to do so.

“MMA is there. Only JI has left it. Our party is likely to contest next elections from the MMA platform like previous elections,” he said.

The JUI-F chief said popularity of his party had increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it had winning candidates in southern districts of the province.

On the occasion, provincial assembly member from Hangu district Atiqur Rehman announced to join JUI-F.

The MPA had contested last election as a PPP-Sherpao candidate. However, it later joined treasury benches in the provincial assembly.