LARKANA: JUI-F emir Maulana Fazulur Rehman has expressed concern over the law and order situation in the country, claiming that candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are still wary of contesting elections amid security fears.

Maulana Fazl addressed two rallies in Sindh’s Larkana and Kandhkot districts over the weekend as part of the election campaigns for joint JUI-F-Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) candidates.

In his address at Larkana’s Jamia Islamia seminary on Sunday, the JUI-F emir said that candidates in Balochistan and KP were being targeted in one or two attacks every week. He demanded clarity over the issue and said people should be informed about the prevailing situation.

Maulana Fazl, however, urged people to participate in elections and “cast their vote wisely” to elect right person for their representation in assemblies.

Urges people to ‘vote wisely’ for prosperity, upholding human rights

While expressing concern over crippling inflation, he asked how a vendor, a pushcart owner and poor villagers could feed their children.

“Under what conditions they are living? Do they have the resources to purchase anything for their families?

“When shall we get rid of these ills,” he questioned and added that Islam has taught us about human rights, peace and a prosperous economy.

He regretted that Pakistan could not make real progress in any field over the past 75 years. The country had been left behind in the entire region, he said. “Now we are on the decline further,” he remarked.

Prominent among those who attended the gathering were Dr Safdar Abbasi, GDA’s candidate from NA-195 (Larkana-II), Rashid Mehmood Soomro, JUI-F leader and candidate from NA-194 (Larkana-I), Maulana Tahir Mehmood Soomro JUI-F’s candidate from PS-10, Muzaffar Brohi of GDA, Dr Abdul Qayoom Soomro, Abdul Qayoom Halijvi and others.

In their speeches, the leaders criticised PPP’s 15-year rule in Sindh and said the party “sold” tempting slogans and deceived voters with “hollow promises”.

Rally in Kandhkot

Earlier on Saturday, the JUI-F emir arrived in Kandhkot and addressed a rally.

He said the “grand procession” was a message that the candidates of JUI-F and its allies would win the election.

Criticising PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, the JUI-F emir claimed there was no accountability of the person “who usurped foreign funding of his party”.

Maulana Fazl told a charged crowd that there was a need to struggle for prosperity and uphold human rights in Pakistan.

“If powerful people commit crime, they walk free with impunity, and if the poor are involved in any wrongdoing, they are arrested,” he said, adding that although there was a single law, two systems are running within it. “Such affairs invite Allah’s wrath,” the Maulana said.

He said lawmakers in assemblies did not seem interested in Islamic legislation as enshrined in the constitution.

Even though the number of religious scholars was less in the assembly, Maulana Fazl said, “They had played their role in making this country an Islamic state.”

Talking about the upcoming elections, he urged JUI-F’s workers and supporters to go door to door in cities and villages and persuade people to play their role “for the protection of life and properties” by exercising their right to vote.

While talking about the situation in Afghanistan, Maulana Fazl said the US had been defeated in Afghanistan and that the country was “more stable” at present.

He claimed efforts were being made to weaken Afghanistan and sour its “friendship” with Pakistan.

“The whole world is trying to make them fight, but JUI-F played an important role in bringing them together,” said Maulana Fazl, who recently visited Kabul and met the Afghan Taliban leadership.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2024

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