Fazl warns of 'political paralysis'

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said Pakistan has become "politically and economically paralysed", alleging that the current rulers lacked a public mandate and were "imposed" through manipulated electoral outcomes.

He said the "Form 47 government" had left the state unable to address internal crises or represent itself effectively on the global stage.

Speaking at a seminar held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Fazl said the ruling setup had come to power via "artificial crutches and rigged documents".

Referring to ongoing diplomatic developments, he said a second round of talks between Iran and the United States was expected to begin in Pakistan, with US President Donald Trump and the Iranian leadership likely to participate.

While acknowledging Pakistan's role in facilitating mediation, he questioned the contradiction between negotiations and continued threats from Washington.

Expressing concern over the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting surge in oil prices, he said flawed policies and incompetence had led to the closure of Pakistan's borders and trade routes.

He claimed that even China, a close ally of Islamabad, was reluctant to invest under current conditions.

He warned policymakers that as long as the "Form 47 rule" persisted, inflation would not ease and genuine stability would remain elusive, asserting that his party was the only force capable of replacing the existing system with a transparent one.

Addressing India, he said that in the event of any aggression, workers of his party would stand alongside the Pakistan Army on the front lines.

Fazl questioned policymakers over the country's economic direction, pointing to closed eastern and western borders, disrupted trade routes and declining foreign investment.

He said that nationwide protests announced by his party had been postponed, not cancelled, following government requests due to ongoing talks.