Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Thursday warned that the Election Commission of Pakistan will be responsible if any worker of his party is injured or martyred in the general elections.
Maulana Fazl was addressing a press conference over the issue of the Chief Election Commissioner’s fresh statement about the law and order situation in the two provinces.
He said that the nation’s attention is presently on February 8, adding that his party will fully participate in the general elections. Fazl said that two provinces were in the grip of unrest. “The authorities should provide us with peace along with the elections,” he demanded.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the CEC is saying that the situation in two provinces is bad and he is praying for betterment in the situation but he must note that if even one of JUI workers is injured or martyred, he will directly be responsible.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also expressed a fear in this context that people will not go out to vote due to insecurity. He raised questions about the independent status of the ECP by saying that if the election schedule is to be issued after asking the court, how did the Election Commission become independent?
Answering a query about snatching nomination papers from the candidates of his rival party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said taking away the nomination papers of the candidates is wrong in principle.
Replying to another question about the cases and detentions of PTI leaders, the JUI leader said the PTI is not being abused but it is being highlighted.
He said the jurisdiction of the ECP is the whole of the country but the limits of Peshawar High Court is its province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa only and it couldn’t make decisions about the whole of Pakistan.
The JUI-F chief said that all candidates should be given an equal opportunity. He also stressed the need for resolving the problems with neighbouring countries through dialogues. “We believe in mutual respect with Afghanistan. India should also shun its stubbornness. The Kashmir dispute should be resolved as per resolutions of the UN Security Council,” he added.
He said that Israel is unleashing atrocities in Palestine. “The killing of women and children is a war crime,” he stated.
