LAKKI MARWAT: With polling day coming close, the electioneering by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl gained momentum as party’s central chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman spent second day in the district on Monday to seek support of voters.

Despite a specific security threat, the JUI-F chief addressed a workers convention and a graduation ceremony at a seminary in Lakki city. Stringent security measures were taken on the occasion.

A large number of JUI-F activists, local bodies’ members and supporters of the Ahmadkhel family showed up at the events. At the workers convention, the JUI-F chief said that ballot paper had power like that of a sword and gun therefore people should use it wisely.

He asked people to support the struggle his party had launched for Islamisation with their votes.

Shedding light on achievements of his party’s rule in the province under the alliance of religious parties, Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal, he said that provision of free education and free textbooks to students, free medicines and emergency services at hospitals and establishment of educational and health institutes across the province were initiated by their government.

“It is not our aim to protect the vested interests of any certain class but we are fighting an ideological war against those, who are bent upon to destroy Islamic culture and norms and our strong traditions,” he said.

The JUI-F chief said that assemblies were full of those people, who had no interest in enforcing Islamic law. He asked people to support JUI-F candidates and send them to assemblies to stop legislation against the teachings of Quran and Sunnah. He said that his recent successful visit to Afghanistan would help to end tension between the two neighbouring countries.

Mr Rehman condemned the brutalities of Israeli forces and said that around 25,000 innocent Palestinians including women and children had been massacred in Israeli bombardment strikes. He said that he met the Hamas leaders in Qatar and assured them of full support.

“Those, who are fighting the elections against us, do not have the courage to displease America and the West and stand with the Muslims of Palestine,” he said.

He directed the party workers to distribute the manifesto of JUI-F among people to gather their support. He said that his party would repeat its triumphant history in the upcoming general elections.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024