Fazl seeks referendum on Fata status

Urges govt to take tribespeople into confidence

MARDAN: Urging the government to take the tribespeople into confidence, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday demanded that a referendum should be held to decide the future of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

“The government should allow the people of Fata to make a decision about their future,” he said while addressing the Mufti Mahmood Conference here. A large number of JUI-F workers in Mardan district attended the meeting.

Federal Minister for Housing Akram Khan Durrani, JUI-F General Secretary and Deputy Chairman Senate Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, provincial Information Secretary Abdul Jalil Jan and JUI-F district head Maulana Mohammad Qasim also addressed the moot.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said late Mufti Mahmood created awareness among the people and changed the country’s politics. He added that Mufti Mahmood played a key role in making the 1973 Constitution.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman recalled that Mufti Mahmood supported former dictator General Ziaul Haq, who had promised Mufti Mehmood that he would restore democracy in the country. “But when Ziaul Haq didn’t fulfill his commitment, Mufti Mehmood started opposing him,” he maintained. 

He added the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal government introduced the Hasba Bill to implement Islamic laws, but former President General (retired) Pervez Musharraf challenged it in the Supreme Court that declared it against the spirit of the Constitution.

The JUI-F chief added that law and order situation in the province was better during the MMA government and all the roads were opened for the people. “There were no checkpoints on roads, but now the roads are blocked and barricades have been erected, which is inconveniencing the people,” he added.

“Though we supported the government in its war on terror, terrorism has not been eradicated from the country. The government has been unable to reconstruct the mosques and seminaries damaged in acts of subversion,” he maintained.

The Maulana accused the US and Israel of conspiring against the Muslims to occupy their resources. He said there was a dire need to forge unity among the Muslims countries. “We will not allow anybody to implement Jewish agenda in Pakistan,” he added.

Protest held against India in Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minority Alliance staged a protest rally to condemn the atrocities against people in Indian-occupied Kashmir.The protest rally, staged outside the Peshawar Press Club, was addressed by leaders of the provincial youth wing of the alliance, Suleman Javed and Junaid Khokhar.They said that they were with Kashmiris who were fighting against the Indian occupation forces.