Democracy defeated in Senate polls, says Fazl

MULTAN: The leader of JUI-F, Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples’ Party should revisit the Charter of Democracy for the sake of democracy.

Talking to The News at Qasimul Aloom on the eve of annual congregation, Fazl said the democratic process and democracy were defeated in the Senate polls.

When asked about his role in revisiting the CoD, he said the JUI-F was not part of the CoD so he could not play any role in this regard. He said the JUI-F had welcomed the agreement between the major political parties.

Fazl said democracy was moving on a right track in the last six years with political reconciliation, but all of a sudden a situation developed that damaged the CoD.

He said political parties should show commitment to democracy.

The JUI-F chief said the political scenario was gloomy and the people would lose faith in democracy in the wake of controversy over Senate polls. He wanted accountability of those who had brought vulgarity in the politics.

Fazl said the religious parties would play a decisive role in the next general elections.

The JUI-F secretary general, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidery said the PPP and the PTI might develop consensus on Senate opposition leader. He said the JUI-F had voted for PML-N candidates in the Senate elections. Haidery stressed the need of direct elections for Senate like National Assembly.