Blame games: Stop maligning Maulana Fazal: JUI-F women’s wing

Accuses PTI of using K-P’s resources for its ongoing sit-in at federal capital.

PESHAWAR:

Speaking out in defence of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman, women lawmakers from his party have asked the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to “stop maligning him.”

While addressing a news conference at the party’s provincial headquarters in the city on Monday, JUI-F women’s wing leader MNA Naeema Kishwar said, “If PTI leaders do not stop their malicious campaign against Maulana Fazalur Rehman, JUI-F will be forced to protest against their party.”

According to Kishwar, PTI is promoting a culture of impertinence and deceit, and JUI-F wants to protect all women in the country from it. “PTI has now managed to transfer its flawed behaviour from its container to the assemblies,” said Kishwar, referring to last week’s ruckus in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly where some PTI lawmakers, including a minister, tried to assault opposition MPAs.

“Male MPAs are now making attempts to attack women lawmakers. This has never happened in the history of the assembly,” claimed the JUI-F MNA. Moreover, she accused PTI of using the resources of K-P to bolster its prolonged sit-in in Islamabad.

Lashing out at the party regarding the delay in local government elections in K-P, Kishwar said, “PTI had made tall claims of holding LG polls within three months of coming into power, however, more than 18 months have passed and the party continues to delay the polls.”

PTI leaders claim to be the champions of women’s rights but, they have appointed only one woman in the government and even that is a minor position, stated Kishwar.  She added PTI’s ministers in K-P are using a majority of the developments funds in their own constituencies.

MPA Romana Jalil and other office bearers of the JUI-F were present at the news conference.

JUI-F women wing’s statements come in response to PTI Information Secretary Dr Shireen Mazari’s news conference in Islamabad on Sunday wherein she warned Maulana Fazal to stop issuing statements against women participating in PTI’s dharna or they would hold country-wide rallies to expose his corruption.

For the past few weeks, the JUI-F chief has been issuing statements objecting to women’s participation in the sit-in.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2014.