Fazl seeks overhaul of entire 'system'

Slamming the results of the February 8 general elections, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman Thursday alleged “manipulation of votes” and “sell” of all legislature “from the Sindh Assembly to the President’s House” took place in the 2024 nationwide polls.

“We are loyal to Pakistan, but there is no value of national loyalty here,” Maulana Fazl said while addressing a power show in Karachi Thursday night. “Issue is not limited to elections, you (state institutions) will have to change themselves in entirety.”

Pointing towards alleged manipulation of poll results, he criticised: “Democracy has been eliminated from the country.”

“Those people sitting at the helm have made Pakistan a slave of America,” he said, adding, "Pakistan is self-sufficient of competent people and natural resources."

The senior politician, who headed a multi-party alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — which successfully ousted the former prime minister Imran Khan’s government in 2022, said that they were fighting for sovereignty of the country.

He said a “drama” was staged in the name of general elections in the 2024.

Fazl said his political rivals thought that the JUI-F would not be able to protest against election rigging “but our movement is not only for one day or one month”.

He also expressed concerns over the increase in terror incidents, saying that Pakistan can only prosper when rulers come to power through “people’s struggle”. He added that his party’s struggle was not aimed at getting positions in the assemblies or ministries but “we are ready to fight for your rights as a soldier”.

The politico expressed hopes that Pakistan would become a prosperous and developed country when the JUI-F comes into power via a public struggle.

He said Israel announced the opening of an embassy in Jerusalem.

He said this is bullying and they stand for the liberation of Palestine with the Palestinean people shoulder-by-shoulder.

He said JUI’s stand will be for the people then it will be said that you will not come to power.

He said they are being punished that he went to Afghanistan to resolve the issues.

“Apparently, the nation was told that we are conducting an operation against robbers. But instead, they make them sit inside (parliament).

He said armed people get 10 percent from the tender from their province (KPK) while they are portraying that they are fighting against terrorists.