Will not allow fake assemblies to complete term: Fazlur Rehman

Says Imran Khan has taken the path of retreat

DERA ISMAIL KHAN:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday reiterated that the ‘fake’ assemblies would not be allowed to complete their terms.

The JUI-F chief’s remarks came while he was speaking to media in Shorkot, Punjab, before leaving for Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to head PDM’s rally – opposition’s second phase of the anti-government campaign.

While talking to the media, the Fazal said that the current assemblies were formed by stealing public mandate and that Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken the path of retreat.

“PDM’s rallies and meetings were hindered in Dera Ismail Khan (DIK), Multan and Lahore,” Fazal claimed. “Local media was forced to misreport which was rejected by the international media.”

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On January 4, PDM chief declared the opposition parties’ struggle against the PTI government a jihad – a holy war – and claimed that now it will be a sin to turn one’s back on this sacred mission.

“What we are doing through the PDM is commonly referred to as a movement when in fact it is a jihad-e-sharee [jihad as warranted by the sharia]. Struggling against this [PTI] government is a jihad and turning one’s backs on it will be a sin,” the Maulana said.

Fazl was addressing a huge rally organized by the 11-party opposition alliance in Bahawalpur district.

The JUI-F chief on Friday warned the military establishment that the PDM instead of marching to Islamabad could decide marching to Rawalpindi, where the headquarters of the Pakistan Army is located. And at the Bahawalpur rally on Sunday he reiterated that warning.

According to Fazl, the Pakistan Army should make it clear whether it backs Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government as he claims, so that the PDM may direct its movement towards the military establishment.

“This country is not a property of any dictator or any particular institution. It is also not under anyone’s occupation. This country belongs to its people,” he added.

He said the PDM consists of different parties with different points of views and different opinions and it is natural to have a difference of opinion regarding its roadmap. “However, we all are on the same page regarding the PTI led government and believe that it needs to go.”

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran said that the opposition's PDM posed no threat to his government.

While chairing a meeting of his spokespersons, the premier stated that the opposition's entire movement was to win a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO); "which I will not give,” he asserted.

The premier observed that the whole opposition united under one umbrella as soon as they started being held accountable.

He said the government had set the country's otherwise weak economy on the right path and that, this year, the government will focus on improving its performance and delivery.

During the meeting, PM Imran directed his spokespersons to highlight the government’s economic achievements.

The premier stressed that no society could progress without accountability, asserting that, "The process of accountability will continue".