Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that he wants to vote for Mahmood Achakzai — the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate for the presidential election — but his party’s decision demands otherwise.
He, however, ruled out the possibility of joining hands with the allied parties, saying that the environment for a grand alliance is not yet there.
“We will be where the opposition benches are. We will go to parliament and protest,” he added while speaking to a gathering at Jamia Anwarul Uloom in Karachi on Sunday.
In a veiled jibe, Fazl said that those who knew he would be the presidential candidate against them offered money.
He said that the politicians should stand by their commitments, therefore, he still has the same stance regarding the Imran Khan-founded party — the PTI.
“We want to have an environment where differences could be removed,” he added.
Continuing his criticism of the alleged rigged polls, Fazl said that the “establishment has divided itself in the elections” and “adjusted some in one place and some in another”.
Pakistan staged the biggest election of its history last month, which was extraordinary in various aspects. However, the outcome of the polls did not turn out to be as expected by the political actors as none of them got a simple majority.
Subsequently, many parties including the PTI, JUI-F and others rejected the general elections.
Fazl said that his party has rejected the election results and the facts emerging with time are confirming the party’s stance.
“We believe that 2024 elections broke rigging records of the 2018 polls,” Fazl said, adding that the current parliament was an outcome of rigging.
He said that some people would call themselves the rulers but wouldn’t rule the hearts of the nation. “Democracy is losing its case, parliament is losing its importance.”
Fazl further stated that the JUI-F doesn’t have personal issues with anyone but “these rulers have taken rule as power”.
“They think that they will buy assemblies with money,” he added.
