JUI-F to not accept rigging even if it's in our favour: Fazl

• Fazl says election rigging is most heinous crime.
• Says his party will continue speaking against wrong. 
• Fazl also made JUI-F central chief for five years. 

PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JU-IF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman spoke strictly against political engineering and rigging of elections, saying his party will continue to oppose the "heinous crime", The News reported Monday. 

“Rigging of elections is the most heinous crime. We would not allow it even if it is done in our favour,” said the JUI-F chief in a late-night address to the two-day central general council meeting after its conclusion. 

Fazl said that they could have differences with the institution but not permanent enmity with them.

“We would continue to speak against the wrong. We know how to protect our mandate and we would never tolerate rigging at any cost,” the former-ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief said. 

Fazl made these comments after he was chosen as the JUI-F central chief and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri as general secretary for another five-year term. 

The two-day meeting discussed the upcoming general elections slated to be held on February 8 next year. The huddle was attended by council members from across the country.

During the meeting, the central general secretary and provincial chiefs of the party presented presented performance reports. The party leaders from all the provinces, tribal districts, Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir also made a thorough assessment of the activities and preparations for the elections. 

The meeting also discussed the situation in Gaza and the party's standpoint on the issue while leadership was issued directives to expedite preparations for the polls.

As general elections approach, political parties in Pakistan are holding meetings, forging electoral alliances and launching election campaigns to win voters' trust.

Fazl further said that around 30 members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) left their party in the National Assembly but the alliance of political parties headed by him did not accept those dissident members of the then-ruling party.

He said that JUI was against lawlessness and was demanding peace in the country. 

Pointing the finger at decisions being taken currently in the country, Fazl asked if those were state’s decisions where was parliament then. 

The chief noted that his party has always raised its voice in favour of oppressed people across the world. “We spoke against the US atrocities in different parts of the world. When the whole world was silent over the crimes against humanity in Myanmar, we got resolutions passed against it in the parliament."

He said after the emergence of the crisis in Palestine, JUI-F became the strongest voice in support of the people of Palestine in Pakistan, adding that he visited Qatar to express solidarity with the leadership of Palestine.

The JUI-F would observe next Friday as a solidarity day with the Palestinian Muslims and rallies and meetings would be arranged for the purpose.

It should be noted that the Supreme Court, on November 3, ordered the government to ensure the conduct of general elections on February 8, a day after President Arif Alvi and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja unanimously agreed on the aforementioned date during a meeting held at the President's House.

The court's orders came during the hearing of multiple pleas seeking timely elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.