Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman launched a new attack on his former allies, now part of the federal government, calling the current members of Parliament “fake representatives” of the people.
Fazl, who has long claimed that the February 9 general elections were “rigged,” has been vocal in his demand for new elections to ensure the selection of genuine representatives. His party, which fell out with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after the 2024 elections, accuses them of vote rigging and manipulating results.
The cleric, who led the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — a multi-party opposition alliance that successfully ousted former Prime Minister Imran Khan via a no-confidence vote in 2022 — is now in discussions with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to strategize for new elections.
Addressing a traders’ convention in Peshawar, Fazl criticized the government, accusing Parliament of being populated by “fake representatives” who neglect the public’s needs. He condemned the government’s handling of the economy and security, claiming Pakistan is regressing compared to other regional countries.
Fazl also criticized recent tax increases, which have aggravated inflation and public discontent. He sarcastically remarked that “the only thing not yet taxed is breathing” and questioned why citizens should pay taxes if they believe their money is going toward repaying foreign loans.
In addition, Fazl expressed dissatisfaction with past finance ministers, suggesting that the finance portfolio has been given to “clueless” individuals. He mentioned past prime ministers, including Moeen Qureshi, who appeared to come from nowhere, suggesting a lack of transparency and accountability in political appointments.
Emphasizing the need for economic stability and support for traders and farmers, Fazl argued that peace and a strong economy should be the nation’s priorities, and his party could play a role in achieving these goals.
