Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday strongly called for fresh elections, stating that both the 2018 and 2024 elections were rigged and lacked credibility.
Speaking during his visit to Sindh Governor House, Fazl said that new elections should be held to reflect the true will of the people. He said he had visited the Governor House on the invitation of Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and thanked him for his hospitality and affection. He expressed gratitude for being conferred an honorary PhD degree but remarked that he still preferred to be called “Maulana.”
During his media talk, Fazl shared his views on religious education, saying that excluding the Holy Quran, Hadith and sects from the sciences was not appropriate. He stressed that religious schools and modern sciences should not be separated, adding that the religious examination system was strong and effective. He emphasized the need to study history objectively and questioned Pakistan’s Afghanistan policy, saying Afghanistan had never been a true friend of Pakistan and that policymakers must reflect on the reasons.
He welcomed unity among national institutions and said that if all institutions worked together, Pakistan could move forward. He also said that refugees should be treated like guests and criticized what he described as pressure coming from certain quarters. Commenting on constitutional matters, he said the 26th Amendment was passed with consensus, while the 27th Amendment was unilateral.
Sindh Governor Kamran Tesori, speaking on the occasion, said it was an honor for him that Maulana Fazlur Rehman was awarded an honorary PhD degree at the Governor House. He said he had a detailed discussion with the JUI chief on national issues, including Pakistan’s challenges and achievements. The governor said they discussed how Allah Almighty honored Pakistan and praised national institutions for safeguarding the country’s integrity.
Governor Tesori said terrorism in Pakistan was linked to Khawarij elements and traced back to Afghanistan, adding that Indian-sponsored terrorists were present there. He urged the Afghan government to disassociate itself from terrorism and recalled that Pakistan had treated Afghan citizens as guests and brothers during times of war.
The governor emphasized that religious scholars and educational institutions, both religious and secular, had an important role in countering extremism and strengthening the country. He said Pakistan was striving to overcome economic challenges and that no force could stop the country’s development if unity prevailed.
