JUI-F vows to protect madrassa autonomy
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) on Tuesday vowed to ensure the freedom and autonomy of religious seminaries "at all costs", accusing the government of exposing its duplicity by promulgating an ordinance without the president's signature.
The party's chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman made the remarks during a meeting with JUI-F Lahore General Secretary Hafiz Abdul Rehman, where the country's prevailing political situation was discussed.
The meeting was attended by Maulana Fazil Usmani, Maulana Maqsood Alwari, Hafiz Zain-ul-Abideen, Salman Arif, Muhammad Shahid and other party office-bearers.
During the meeting, Fazl also visited the family of party leader Qari Muhammad Tahir to offer condolences over his death.
Speaking on the issue of religious seminaries, the JUI-F chief said that the party would ensure the independence and self-governance of madrassas under all circumstances.
He alleged that pressure on seminaries was part of a "foreign agenda" and rejected it outright, urging the rulers to view religious institutions with respect rather than suspicion.
Meanwhile, a JUI-F spokesperson strongly criticised the issuance of an ordinance without the president's signature, saying it had laid bare the government's "deceit".
The spokesperson said the move amounted to an insult to the President Office, parliament, politicians and democracy itself, adding that those claiming to be guardians of democracy had reduced the Constitution and democratic norms to a mockery.
The spokesperson said that for the sake of short-lived power, the rulers had "buried the Constitution, values and democracy".
He remarked sarcastically that at this rate, parliament and even signatures might soon be deemed unnecessary for ordinances and constitutional amendments.
JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said such outcomes were inevitable when power was obtained through what he termed a "fake and forced majority".
He lamented that the cost of the PML-N and PPP's hunger for power had always been borne by the public.