Fazl vows to continue struggle against 'illegitimate' govt setup

• Govt established on basis of rigging, says JUI-F chief.
• He says JUI-F battled alone for 26th Amendment.
• No one has right to violate rights of people, says Fazl.

MARDAN: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has renewed his pledge to continue challenging the "illegitimate" government setup through democratic means, as he called February 8, 2024, a dark day in the country's history. 

Talking to journalists in Mardan, he took the government to task, accusing it of coming into being through widespread electoral fraud, The News reported.

He said that last year's general elections were the most rigged in the history of Pakistan. 

"Today is a dark day as [on this day] the government was established on the basis of rigging," he said on the first anniversary of 2024 General Elections.

He further accused the government of robbing the people, particularly the poor, of their rights. He dismissed claims of economic stability, warning that inflation would grow further next year while GDP would decline.

Fazl asserted that his party battled alone for the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which defended the rights of the Constitution, parliament and citizens.

“We have joined the opposition in the assemblies because we believe in fighting for the people’s rights,” he stated. “No one has the right to violate the rights of the people.”

The JUI-F chief also expressed concerns over what he termed as delaying tactics in implementing the Madaris Act in different provinces.

The veteran politician reiterated his stance that the election process was manipulated to install a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

He also stressed the importance of talks rather than political conflict to resolve problems. 

Terming the February 8, 2024, general elections as “rigged”, JUI-F chief Fazl had on February 5 reiterated his call for fresh elections in the country.

Fazl, who played a key role in the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan from office through a no-confidence motion in April 2023, had said that the PML-N-led government should step down and announce fresh polls.

Meanwhile, the former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also observed a “Balck Day” on Saturday against alleged rigging in the February 8 general elections in 2024. The political party claimed that their mandate had been stolen during elections on the same day last year, an allegation the ruling coalition has denied.

Both the opposition parties have long-held the stance of "rigged elections" and demanded fresh polls at times.