Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of the February 8 elections due to the country’s unstable security situation This statement came following an attack on vehicles within his convoy in Dera Ismail Khan, occurring nearly 24 hours earlier.
The JUI-F party reported that the veteran politician’s convoy faced gunfire from multiple directions at Yarik interchange, clarifying that fortunately, Maulana Fazlur Rehman was not present in the targeted vehicles at the time.
Consistently urging the interim government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure law and order, Fazlur Rehman emphasized that the current circumstances were not conducive for holding elections.
During a press conference in DI Khan on Monday, he remarked, “The incident yesterday [Sunday] raises concerns about the security situation,” further stating, “Postponing the elections for a brief period won’t pose a significant issue.”
Responding to Fazlur Rehman’s persistent requests to postpone the elections, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson Faisal Karim Kundi accused the JUI-F chief of attempting to evade the polls.
Additionally, Fazlur Rehman highlighted instances where his party’s leadership had encountered attacks in Waziristan and Tank, expressing apprehension about security in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) regions.
Throughout 2023, Pakistan grappled with terrorism, internal political strife, socioeconomic inequalities, regional instability, and heightened tensions with militant groups near the Afghan border.
Given the prevailing conditions, Fazlur Rehman questioned the feasibility of conducting election campaigns and emphasized his plea to the election commissioner for a postponement. He mentioned the commissioner’s response, stating, “He says that he’s praying.”
While major political parties like PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) continue their rallies and are poised to unveil their manifestos, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) faces challenges. Top PTI leaders, including founder Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, had their nomination papers rejected and are currently incarcerated.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
