Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazl ur-Rehman has claimed that former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt Gen (r) Faiz Hameed and former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar were still lobbying for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan.
While addressing a press conference on Sunday, Fazl pleaded with the institutions to pay attention to the predicament and “rein them in.”
He also blamed Imran Khan for what he claimed was an ideological schism within the institutions and establishment.
In light of the “deteriorating law and order situation”, he asked for the upcoming elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to be delayed.
“The country’s law and order situation is not acceptable for elections,” the PDM chief declared.
While the date for the general elections in Punjab is set for April 30, Governor Ghulam Ali is yet to decide when the elections will take place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
President Arif Alvi consulted the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) before announcing the schedule for the Punjab elections in view of the Supreme Court’s divided decision earlier this week. Yet, the letter that the ECP submitted to the KP governor’s office has not yet been “opened”.
Fazal also stated that they support having general elections within the time frame specified in the Constitution, but he also noted, “We must make judgments in light of the situation in the country.”
In reference to alleged election cheating in 2018, he said that the Supreme Court issued a suo motu notice about the dates of the elections in Punjab and KP, adding that the notice might have been sent during the voting.
The PDM leader questioned, “How are these ears that did not hear the voice of 1.5 million people and took a suo motu notice for merely four persons,” as he recalled his party’s lengthy march in support of new elections and the removal of Imran Khan as prime minister in 2019.
Additionally, he blamed Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led administration for the current economic crisis and for wrecking the nation’s economy. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is currently creating our budget and regulating prices, he continued.
