The convoy of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F), reportedly came under a gun attack near the Yarik interchange in DI Khan.
While initial reports suggested an attack on Maulana Fazl’s convoy, the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Nasir Mehmood Dasti refuted these claims.
The RPO stated that the attack targeted the Yarik interchange police checkpost, and Maulana Fazl was not in the convoy during the incident.
The attackers reportedly fled after encountering a strong response from the police at the interchange.
It’s worth noting that the interior ministry previously issued warnings of serious threats to the lives of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Awami National Party provincial president Aimal Wali Khan.
The ministry urged caution, vigilance, and enhanced security arrangements for their residences, movements, and public gatherings to prevent any untoward incidents.
Pakistan has experienced an increase in terrorist attacks, particularly since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021. The first half of 2023 witnessed over 271 militant attacks, leading to the loss of 389 lives and injuring 656 individuals.
This represents a 73% increase in terrorist incidents compared to the corresponding period before the Taliban’s rise to power.
Sheikh Rasheed Claims Supreme Court Declared Him ‘Sadiq and Ameen’
Meanwhile, former Interior Minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed expressed dissatisfaction with the rejection of his nomination papers for the 2024 general elections, stating that the Supreme Court (SC) had previously declared him ‘Sadiq and Ameen.’
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected his papers for NA-56 Rawalpindi-V and NA-57 Rawalpindi-VI.
Sheikh Rasheed, in discussions with journalists, mentioned his attempts to obtain a copy of the ECP’s decision, emphasizing the need for it to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court and secure his electoral rights.
Asserting his determination, Rasheed declared, “I will not relinquish my right to contest the election, and I will persevere until the end for my legal and constitutional entitlement.”
Addressing allegations that he failed to pay rent for a rest house 12 years ago, leading to his disqualification, Rasheed vehemently denied the accusations, challenging anyone to prove otherwise and pledging to resign from politics if proven true.
Expressing regret over what he deemed a violation of the law to repatriate a “corrupt person,” Rasheed affirmed his allegiance to Pakistan, contrasting it with those who he claimed had inflicted economic and political damage on the country and then sought refuge abroad.
