• Laments rising corruption, deteriorating law and order in Balochistan, KP
• Dismisses speculation of JUI-F joining federal govt
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has announced plans to launch a nationwide protest campaign, along with the PTI, against the government after Eidul Fitr, citing rising corruption and deteriorating law and order in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking to media persons on Sunday, Maulana Fazl accused the federal government of neglecting security concerns in these provinces, claiming that the ruling coalition was least bothered about the crisis.
“We are planning to protest against the federal government’s policies after Eidul Fitr, along with the PTI,” he said.
A meeting of the JUI-F’s general assembly had been called to devise a plan about the protest drive, he said, terming the current parliament and government “puppets”.
While he acknowledged that PTI’s real leadership remains in jail, he admitted that tensions between the two parties had subsided, paving the way for a possible alliance.
“Rhetoric by a few people will not cause a rift in the possible alliance with PTI. If certain individuals speak against me, PTI should take notice,” he said.
A final decision on the matter, he added, would be made in JUI-F’s policymaking meeting.
‘State’s existence in danger’
Fazlur Rehman lashed out at the government’s handling of security and governance, arguing that authorities treat Punjab as if it were the entire country while ignoring Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“If there is no terrorism in Punjab, it does not mean that other provinces should be left to fend for themselves,” he said, referring to the situation in Balochistan and the KP.
“The existence of the state is in danger and yet only the opposition parties are worried. Why is the government not thinking about it?” he questioned. “The prime minister is inviting people for Iftar. Why can’t they talk about the country’s problems?”
The JUI-F chief also questioned the government’s legitimacy, stating that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi lacked electoral credibility and were not true representatives of people.
