Maulana to rev up anti-rigging crusade

The JUI-F, unyielding in its refusal to join forces with its former allies in the government, showed no intentions of relenting in its accusations of election rigging, escalating its challenge to the legitimacy of the recently elected parliament.

The emir of the politico-religious party, Maulana Fazlur Rahman, arrived in Lahore on Tuesday night for a two-day visit, signalling a strategic move in his protest against the electoral process.

Accompanied by central spokesperson Muhammad Aslam Ghori and Tariq Khan Baloch, JUI-F Punjab spokesperson Hafiz Ghazanfar Aziz announced Maulana Fazlur Rahman's schedule for the two-day visit.

The JUI-F chief is expected to address a lawyers' convention on Wednesday (today), with various party leaders and renowned lawyers slated to speak at the event.

Furthermore, Maulana Fazlur Rahman will attend a dinner hosted for the newly elected MNAs and MPAs.

On March 7 (Thursday), he is scheduled to address a party gathering, shedding light on the future course of action.

Hafiz Ghazanfar Aziz affirmed that all arrangements for Maulana Fazlur Rahman's visit to Lahore have been finalized, setting the stage for a series of impactful engagements.

The JUI-F chief has firmly ruled out joining the treasury benches on numerous occasions, opting instead to be a part of the opposition in the parliament. He has also hinted at the launch of a "countrywide protest campaign" against the perceived election irregularities.

Reiterating his stance on the February 8 elections, Maulana Fazlur Rahman has accused the establishment of orchestrating the "stealing and managing" of the people's mandate in Pakistan.

He has claimed that the people were once again betrayed in 2024, similar to the events of 2018.