LAHORE, April 14: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman `formally’ launched his party’s election campaign by addressing a meeting at the Sharifs’ stronghold on Sunday, claiming that the future government at the federal level cannot be formed without JUI-F support.

“If we cannot form the government, no government can be formed without us. And if a party forms the government without us, it cannot run for long,” the Maulana told reporters in a media talk soon after the conclusion of his address to the public meeting at Football ground, Gulshan-i-Ravi.

It was JUI-F’s first rally at the provincial metropolis after its dialogues on seat adjustment with the PML-N in certain constituencies couldn’t bear fruit.

The Maulana said though his party had made sincere efforts to revive Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal, some parties played a politics of seats on others’ instructions and showed a non-serious attitude. “Religious leaders and scholars who are following external instructions are actually hypocrites and people will see their real face soon,” he deplored.

Earlier, while addressing the rally, the JUI chief came hard on the Election Commission of Pakistan and declared it a representative of those having `secular’ concepts.

“The ECP is directing parties not to seek votes in the name of Islam. Such directions negate the Islam-based ideology of the country,” he said. He asked the ECP to `clarify its position’ in one go instead of “expanding the code of conduct for the candidates unnecessarily on a daily basis.”

Criticising the returning officers (ROs), the Maulana blamed them for humiliating the candidates by putting questions on religion. “In some cases the ROs put questions they themselves couldn’t answer.”

Talking about the deteriorating law and order situation, the Maulana said those who were mentally slaves of others could not bring peace to the country. “If JUI comes into power, it will ensure a sustainable peace in the country,” he claimed.

He said his party had fielded over 600 candidates in various electoral constituencies across the country. He said the Punjab would have to change its thinking. “It (the Punjab) will have to end feudalism besides protecting the rights of tenants and workers,” he added.

Condemnation: Markazi Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith (MJAH) chief Prof Sajid Mir on Sunday condemned the terrorist attacks targeting the MQM and the ANP leaders and workers in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement, he said since it was the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan and caretaker governments to ensure free and fair elections, they must take steps for the safety of political workers and leaders across the country.