Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman stressed on Wednesday that the country needed transparent and impartial elections.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the JUI-F chief announced that the JUI-F General Council had rejected the Mines and Minerals Bill. He revealed that the party had sought explanations from the members of the Balochistan Assembly who had supported the bill.
Rehman warned, “If the party is satisfied with the explanation, then that is fine; otherwise, their membership will be suspended.”
The JUI-F chief disclosed that a meeting of the JUI General Council had been convened. He affirmed the party’s unwavering support for the freedom struggle of Palestine. While addressing the issue, he described Israel as an illegitimate state which was an occupying power. “Does any country bomb in its own defence? What about the martyred children and women?” he questioned.
Rehman said: "More than fifty thousand peaceful Palestinians had suffered injustice."
He said that Netanyahu was a war criminal and declared that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had ordered his arrest. He added that several countries had supported these war crimes and reiterated JUI-F’s commitment to support the Palestinian cause from the front lines.
He said that a demonstration in support of Palestine would take place in Lahore on April 27 .
Rehman said: "The people of Punjab will raise their voices for the Palestinians."
He also announced that a million march would be held in Peshawar on May 11, followed by another in Quetta on May 15.
The JUI-F chief affirmed that the party had resolved to follow its own political path. “Our council is not prepared to be part of a larger alliance. We cannot consider these assemblies as truly representative of the people,” he said.
Rehman said that the JUI-F would continue its political struggle through its own platform.
He explained that the provinces would stand united with one another regarding their rights. He said that the Shura and the Executive would decide on common issues relating to day-to-day matters. “If there arises a need for an opposition alliance on any issue, our doors are open,” he said.
He criticised the government’s performance, claiming it had been "zero" thus far.
Rehman said: "Armed groups had operated in KP and Balochistan, while the government and state institutions had failed to protect the people’s lives and property."
He added that discussions with the PTI had taken place for a year and that relations had improved. However, he clarified there was no alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
Rehman maintained that establishing contact with different parties was a positive step and expressed hope that the meeting with the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir would yield positive results."
