Fazal urges postponement of polls in KPK, Punjab amid security concerns

ISLAMABAD, March 5 (SABAH): Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday sought postponement of the upcoming elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) amid a deteriorated law and order situation in the country.

Addressing a press conference, Fazlur Rehman said, “Law and order situation in the country is not suitable for elections.” The general elections in Punjab are scheduled for April 30, while the date for the polls in KPK is yet to be announced as Governor Ghulam Ali has not made a decision yet.

In light of the Supreme Court’s split ruling earlier this week, President Arif Alvi announced the date for Punjab polls after consulting the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). But the KPK governor is yet to “open” the letter that the ECP has sent to his office.

Maulana Fazl also held Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government responsible for the prevailing economic crisis and ruining the country’s economy.

“Today, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is preparing our budget and controlling the prices,” he added. The president of the ruling PDM alliance said that Rs80 billion are being demanded by relevant authorities for ballet papers at a time when the state is unable to provide bread to the poor.