Maulana Fazlur Rehman demands arrest of Imran Khan


BANNU, July 21 (SABAH): Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Ameer Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday demanded the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan.

Addressing a press conference in Bannu, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that religious scholars belonging to the JUI-F are falling victim to target killing. “We should be told who are the killers otherwise the state institutions must accept responsibility,” he added.

He said that state institutions have occupied many seminaries. “They call madrassas centres of terrorism but they also seek cooperation from religious scholars of these madrassas,” he added.

Maulana Fazl said that the institutions should not make a mockery of the situation and should not do politics. “Does the state want the youth to take up arms after getting emotional? Even the servicemen would not have saved the country if it wasn’t for the religious scholars. Despite this, we’re being punished.”

He said that “crazy and stupid” people are surrounding Imran Khan who are following a “fool”. “Against whom jihad should be done is saying that he’s doing jihad.”

The PDM chief also warned that he will make the earth so hot for Imran Khan that his supporters will not be able to place their foot on it, threatening the ousted premier to “stay within his limits”.

The JUI-F chief said that he knows what forces were behind the former premier. “When this army was supporting, you [Imran] had no issues and you were fine with the army but now when the general became neutral so you’re calling him an animal? We know your masters. They have told you to abuse me because this is how politics work in Pakistan.”

Maulana Fazl said that Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is unnecessarily being polite. “I have asked the government to put Imran Khan in jail… get Rana Sanaullah Khan into action,” he said and questioned why the decision on the foreign funding case is being delayed.

The PDM chief also said that “we are being asked to clean up the economic mess created in the last four years in four years”. “This is a short-term government, it should take short-term decisions instead of long-term ones,” he added.

He revealed that he had opposed raising the prices of different commodities during the first meeting in this regard. “In the first meeting, I had said don’t talk to the IMF and do the agreement on new terms but everyone opposed. Nawaz Sharif and I became helpless,” he added.

Maulana Fazl further said that he wanted to see the judiciary beyond doubt where no one can object to their decisions.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the court has the authority to make decisions; however, legislation is the right of the Parliament. “We have to make laws and not the court,” he said, adding that PTI Chairman Imran Khan is “trying to hide behind the courts”.

The JUI-F chief said that the former speaker of the National Assembly and President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi violated the Constitution, therefore, action should be taken against those.

The JUI-F chief said that end of Imran Khan’s government was not the end of the government; instead, it was important for saving the country.

“Khan came into power with an agenda to destroy the country,” he said, warning him to stay within his limits as they [coalition government leaders] will make the life of PTI supporters and leaders tough.

Expressing his views over the results of the Punjab by-polls, Maulana Fazl said, “We saved Pakistan by ending Imran Khan’s government. We were surprised by the results of the by-election in Punjab.”

Regarding the issue of horse trading in the by-elections, Maulana Fazlur Rahman said, “We have nothing to do with it.”

Talking about ballooning inflation, Maulana said that he is aware of inflation. There is no doubt that inflation is increasing day by day and I am concerned, Maulana Fazl added.