JUI-F to mull anti-govt movement after Eid

Fazl says govt incapable of handling existing crisis

ISLAMABAD:

The JUI-F, the county's biggest religious party, will convene a meeting of its Majlis-e-Amomi—general council—to discuss launching a movement against the incumbent PML-N coalition government after Eidul Fitr.

The council will also decide on a proposal to join forces with an opposition parties' alliance cobbled together primarily by Imran Khan's PTI.

Talking to journalists in the federal capital on Sunday, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the country faces an existential crisis and yet the government is oblivious of it while his party despite being in the opposition is disconcerted by it.

"The prime minister is throwing iftar-parties. Why can't he discuss the national issues?" he asked.

The JUI-F chief described the incumbent parliament and government as puppets. He said the president, the prime minister and the interior minister are not eligible to hold their respective positions as they did not win these positions by winning elections.

Fazl noted that President Asif Ali Zardari is enjoying himself, adding that Zardari is the only politician who can "buy" provincial assemblies and the position of the president.

The JUI-F is among the political parties including the PTI which claim that last year's general elections were highly rigged and that the existing parliament does not represent the will of the people.

The JUI-F chief stated that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif could play an important role in national politics. However, he said, the former prime minister was probably content with getting the government of Punjab, the country's political powerhouse.

"Is it enough that Punjab is enjoying peace while two provinces [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan] are left [at the mercy of militancy]?" he asked. "When we will launch a movement, they will complain and ask us to think about the [welfare of the] country," he added.

In response to a question with regard to the JUI-F's possible alliance with the PTI, the Maulana said the PTI's real leadership is in jail while the existing leadership lacks unity.

He, however, acknowledged that acrimony between the two parties has reduced and any adverse statement from either side will not affect their possible cooperation. He said the PTI should take notice if any of its leaders issue any statement against him.

Regarding Pakistan's assistance in the arrest of the suspect involved in the August 2022 Kabul airport bombing, the Maulana said Pakistan "offered a sacrificial goat," to the US which pleased President Donald Trump and the government began to celebrate.

He claimed that the government was waiting for an opportunity to present a "goat" to Trump, adding that while the opposition was happy with Trump's arrival, the government was fearful.

He said national sovereignty was disregarded during this exchange. "This could have been an opportunity to negotiate Dr Aafia Siddiqui's release, but instead, silence prevailed. Tomorrow, to protect their illegitimate rule, they can sacrifice any of us [to the US] in a similar manner," he added.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman lamented that the establishment was running the country. "They question how politicians can govern the country—for God's sake, step aside; politicians can run the country better than you. Pakistan does not belong to the army alone; it belongs to all of us," he added.

He questioned why dialogue is possible with Iran and India but not with Afghanistan. He said if the state requests, the JUI-F could consider playing a role in resolving the Afghanistan issue.