Jamiat Ulema Islam (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is willing to dissolve the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly if new elections are announced.
Addressing the media in Islamabad, the JUI-F leader emphasised his willingness to resign from the assemblies if necessary.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman stressed the importance of not pursuing legal cases against politicians, including Imran Khan, and pointed out that he had previously advised against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) taking governmental responsibility, which they did not heed.
“We seek peace, stability, and economic prosperity for the country, and we are committed to playing our part in achieving these goals,” he stated.
Call for simultaneous polls
Maulana Fazlur Rehman dismissed the idea of a supervisory setup for the new elections, advocating instead for concurrent parliamentary and local body elections. “The country cannot afford another martial law or emergency,” he warned, urging against any further adventurism.
He criticized the current trajectory of governance, claiming that it seeks to subjugate institutions and parliament while reducing public representatives to mere employees. “We envision a strong army that follows the correct path,” he added.
The JUI-F chief expressed his belief that military neutrality in elections would lead to national stability. “Since 2001, the nation has yearned for peace, but the establishment perceives political instability as an opportunity,” he remarked.
He reiterated his stance from before the elections, asserting that political privileges enjoyed by politicians, including Imran Khan, should be universally granted.
In a bid to mend fences with PTI, Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced the formation of a committee under the leadership of Kamran Murtaza to negotiate with the party. The committee includes Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Fazl Ghafoor, Aslam Ghori, and Maulana Amjad.