Real power lies behind scenes, claims Fazl

PESHAWAR:

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the true power lies elsewhere while the visible ruling coalition was merely a façade.

Speaking at a traders' convention in Peshawar on Sunday, he claimed that the country's leadership was a mere puppet show as the real control was being exercised from behind the scenes.

Lamenting the dire economic situation in the country, Fazl said the economy was fragile and stressed the need for peace and economic stability.

He said that the country was sinking while those in power were oblivious to the crisis.

The JUI-F emir also condemned the ever-growing tax burden on the public, pointing out that citizens were being taxed on everything except "breathing and death."

"How a nation can be governed when its economy is in ruins and its leadership lacks legitimacy."

"Law-making across the world focuses on safeguarding life, property, and dignity. But where is the peace and economic security in our country?" he questioned, pointing to the disconnect between the nation's founding ideals and its current trajectory.

The JUI-F chief further called out the presence of what he described as "fake representatives" in the assemblies.

He lamented the ever-increasing burden of oppressive taxes, saying, "People know that their taxes are merely servicing debt. The nation needs to be reassured that their money will be spent on them."

He further stated that the economy is in ruins, beyond the capacity of those currently at the helm to revive it.

"We are being taxed on everything except breathing and death," he quipped, adding that the country cannot be governed run like this.

"Nations are governed by politicians, not by imported financial experts who have no stake in our country."

Fazl also pointed out the disconnect between the country's leadership and the masses, accusing them of having exit plans for times of crisis.

He questioned the rationale behind importing wheat when local farmers' warehouses are already full, hinting at gross mismanagement.

He questioned the logic behind importing wheat while local farmers' warehouses remain full, suggesting gross mismanagement of resources.

Touching on international issues, Fazl warned of a new Cold War, with Pakistan caught in the crossfire.

He accused Western powers of targeting Islamic values and institutions, stating, "Our faith and religious schools are now in their crosshairs."

"Our leaders returned from China empty-handed, while their president's message was clear: instability reigns in our land. The Western agenda has shifted, with Islam and religious schools now in the crosshairs."

Commenting on the issue of Palestine, Fazl reiterated Pakistan's stance, saying that it was the late founding father of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam, who labelled Israel as an "illegitimate child of the West."

The struggle for Palestine, he argued, was an integral part of Pakistan's identity, one that cannot be ignored even after decades of political manoeuvring.