‘Parliament to decide on potential poll delay’

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday instructed the party's organisations in the four provinces to prepare for the general elections and emphasised that if the polls are delayed, the decision will be made by parliament.

However, if the elections are held on time, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will conduct them.

During a press conference on Monday, following the Central Majlis-e-Shura meeting of the party, the JUI-F chief expressed his view on the possibility of a ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), emphasizing that such a decision should be determined by the court, not by the JUI-F.

Although the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is not an electoral alliance, our party is open to seat adjustments, he said, adding that the JUI-F will nevertheless field its own candidates across the country.

Fazl mentioned the central government's failure to take action against Imran Khan and his party leaders in major scandals like the BRT, Malam Jabba, and Billion Tree Tsunami. He called for these cases to be thoroughly investigated and resolved.

Referring to Asif Ali Zardari's comment about elections being held when he says so, the JUI-F dismissed it as a jest.

The party meeting extensively discussed the domestic and international situation. The JUI-F chief criticised the current government for damaging the country's economy and acknowledged that reviving it is a challenge. Nonetheless, he commended the balanced nature of the current budget considering Pakistan's economic crisis.

He condemned the incidents that took place on May 9 and 10, demanding that the government take decisive action against sedition. He expressed concern that Pakistan's Islamic identity is being eroded, emphasising the need to restore it and shape foreign policy in Pakistan's best interests.

He strongly denounced India's aggressive behavior towards neighboring countries and alleged that the occupation of Kashmir is a result of collusion between Imran and Narendra Modi.

He also announced that the four provinces have been instructed to prepare for the upcoming general elections. He also mentioned that intra-party elections of JUI-F are scheduled to take place every four years, starting from the 1st of Muharram 1445 Hijri.

Acknowledging Chinese investment in various sectors, Fazl welcomed the economic friendship between Pakistan and China.

He questioned why Imran was being treated differently and called for justice.

Responding to inquiries about Nawaz Sharif's return to the country, he stated that the decision rests with Nawaz himself.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2023.