Islamabad: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan, has criticized the government’s actions, stating that the dispute with India was primarily over Kashmir.
Now that Kashmir has been handed over to them, this dispute should be considered resolved. Speaking to a private digital media platform, he declared that he would rather leave the country than become a puppet of the establishment. He accused the establishment of manipulating and dividing their electoral strength, asserting that the 2024 elections will be even more rigged than those in 2018, which he claims were orchestrated with forced adjustments.
Rehman pointed out that the current government is effectively ruled by minority representation, propped up by the Pakistan Peoples Party, and controlled by the establishment. He emphasized that his party has taken a stand against this arrangement and initiated a movement nationwide, with a public meeting scheduled in Muzaffargarh, Punjab on June 1. Reflecting on his lifelong experience with the democratic system, he argued that democracy, both in Pakistan and the United States, is merely an illusion.
He reiterated his opposition to political interference by the establishment, both in the 2018 elections and now, asserting that the establishment is determined to achieve its desired results regardless of public opinion. He firmly stated that they refuse to live as subordinates to the establishment and would prefer to leave the country if necessary. Rehman also discussed regional politics, advocating for improved relations with neighboring countries and the formation of an Asian bloc, but identified the establishment as the primary obstacle to this unity.
