What happened at D Chowk was wrong, says Fazl

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asserted on Friday that protests and rallies were a democratic right of all, not just a select few.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) November 24 protest and the crackdown on the protestors, the JUI-F chief condemned the incident by saying, "What happened at D-Chowk was wrong".

However, he stressed that the former ruling party also needed to reflect on its behaviour and urged its leaders to demonstrate a sense of responsibility as loyal party workers wholeheartedly follow their leadership.

Recalling JUI-F's anti-Imran Khan protests, the Maulana said, "During our protest marches, not a single vase was broken nor was anyone harmed".

Stressing the equality of all citizens, he remarked, "The ID card that a leader carries in their pocket is the same as the one that a worker has in theirs."

The JUI-F chief also underscored his party's commitment to press freedom, advising journalists to remain mindful of current challenges.

Regarding instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan, he said he would not support Governor's Rule in the two provinces even though that was constitutionally permissible.

"Both provinces are experiencing unrest and bloodshed. However, Governor's Rule is not the solution. The government should hold fresh elections to ensure true representatives take charge," he stated.

He criticised the government's stance on madrassas, pointing out that many had applied for registration but were facing delays. "The West and the United States (US) see dismantling madrassahs as a necessity but that is unacceptable," he said.

The Maulana called for stability and a change in governance, urging the government to alter its approach.

"We are ready to do everything for the country's stability but the required environment is not being created," he added.