Fazlur Rehman condemns political violence

SUKKUR: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), has strongly condemned Tuesday’s violent incidents in Islamabad.

Addressing the media, Rehman emphasized the importance of holding a dialogue with PTI. He attributed the Feb 8 elections to the prevailing unrest. Despite government plans to stop them, the PTI workers reached Islamabad, where violent clashes broke out. The violence, he said must be condemned and called for a peaceful resolution to the political unrest. He said mature leadership always guides their followers to avoid violence and exercise restraint. JUIF chief highlighted the Pakistan Democratic Movement protests and the Azadi March, where over 1.5 million people gathered in Islamabad without incident. He called for peaceful and inclusive politics and referred to the country’s history of political movements and instability. Fazl warned the government to abandon the policy of coercing political leadership that would only lead the country to further chaos.

Rehman emphasized the need for consensus-building in national matters, particularly the Kachi Canal project. He stressed that such issues should be addressed through mutual agreement and consultation with all provinces, ensuring that everyone’s interests are taken into account.

Reflecting on past political movements, Rehman recalled that during the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) protests, including the Azadi March, more than 1.5 million people gathered in Islamabad without any violent incidents. He stressed that it is essential to show the workers the path of struggle without inciting violence.

Addressing the prevailing instability in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Rehman criticised the provincial governments for their lack of seriousness in dealing with the situation, which has led to unrest in both provinces.

He warned that if the government remains fixated on incarcerating political leaders and creating a cycle of releasing and re-arresting them, the country could descend into anarchy.

He also raised questions about the PTI’s intentions following their announcement to march toward D-Chowk, which prompted the government to impose strict security measures. Despite these efforts, PTI successfully reached Islamabad, where violence erupted, which Rehman firmly condemned.

In response to a question regarding the religious seminaries draft discussed during the PDM era, Rehman pointed out that the proposal had been developed after extensive consultations with key political figures, including Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif.

He expressed concern over the current objections to the draft and promised to discuss the issue more openly in the near future.

Finally, Rehman noted that the current political turmoil is a direct result of the February 8 elections and reiterated his earlier advice to PTI not to support the 26th Constitutional Amendment.