PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday for its recent remarks on the law and order situation.
Addressing the media, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman mentioned that the Chief Election Commissioner, in a recent statement, expressed prayers for an improvement in the situation in two provinces concerning the upcoming general elections. However, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman warned that the CEC would be held responsible for any harm or casualties befalling his party’s workers during the elections.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman conveyed his dissatisfaction with the Chief Election Commissioner’s acknowledgment of a challenging situation in the provinces.
He said that the CEC’s responsibility extends to the safety of JUI workers, emphasizing that any injury or loss of life among his party members would directly implicate the Election Commission.
Expressing apprehension, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman speculated that voter turnout might be impacted due to concerns about security. He raised doubts about the ECP’s claimed independence, questioning how the Election Commission can be considered autonomous if it seeks court approval for the election schedule.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Reacts to Nomination Papers Snatching
Responding to queries about the alleged snatching of nomination papers from rival PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) candidates, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman declared such actions inappropriate. He rejected the claims that PTI has not been provided a level-playing field and maintained that the political party is enjoying freedom.
Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman emphasized the jurisdictional disparity, noting that while the ECP’s authority covers the entire country, the Peshawar High Court’s reach is limited to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising concerns about its authority to make decisions that affect the entire nation.
