US, Europe backing PM Imran, opposition only offered 'symbolic' support for Azadi March: Fazl

CHARSADDA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday said he tried to bring all opposition parties together for a movement against the government but they did not stand with him in his protest against Prime Minister Imran Khan, reported The News.

The JUI-F chief made the remarks while addressing the Majlis-e-Tahafuz-e-Khatm-e-Nabuwwat conference in Charsadda district. “The JUI-F tried to gather political parties on a single platform, but nobody sided with me. The participation of the opposition in the protest was only symbolic," Fazl said. 

Also read: Fazl challenges govt to try him under Article 6 

Fazl alleged that the US and Europe were backing PM Imran, but the Azadi March, held by his party last year, had turned him into a dummy. “We will not accept any ruler who is bent upon promoting foreign agendas in Pakistan,” the JUI-F warned.

In response to a statement made by PM Imran last week had said Fazl should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for agitation against the government. Fazl said that if what he had done was treason, then he was prepared to commit it again until PM Imran was sent packing. 

Also read: Fazlur Rehman should be tried for high treason: PM Imran

Criticising the PTI-led government over its poor performance, the JUI-F chief said that the rulers borrowed heavily in the last 18 months, but failed to turn around the economy. "Many people have approached me with threats of self-immolation, largely because of inflation."

The JUI-F said the government had rendered about 2.5 million people jobless instead of creating the promised 10 million jobs. He added that the ones who had claimed to build five million houses had demolished the shelters of the poor people.

Also read: Fazl announces second round of anti-govt protests from Feb 23

Fazltermed the PTI government “illegitimate” and “unconstitutional”, saying it has been imposed on the people. He said the PTI rulers lacked vision and had compounded the miseries of common man to a cruel extent. 

JUI-F leaders Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Akram Khan Durrani, Maulana Shahabuddin Popalzai, Maulana Syed Gohar Shah, Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh, Maulana Fazal Ali Haqqani, and others, also spoke on the occasion.

Originally published in The News