Maulana Fazlur Rehman: Pakistani Minister’s Viral Comparison With India: “…And We Are Begging

Rehman, the chief of his faction of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), delivered a fiery speech in the National Assembly, accusing the powerful establishment of manipulating the political system. He criticized the 2018 election and raised concerns about the fairness of the February 8 polls.

Rehman supported the PTI’s right to hold a rally and urged the ruling coalition to allow PTI to form the government if it had a majority in parliament. Expressing dismay over the role of the establishment and bureaucracy in elections and governance, Rehman highlighted the dissatisfaction of both winners and losers in the recent election.

He drew comparisons with India’s progress since independence and lamented the failure to implement recommendations from the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) to uphold Islamic principles. Rehman accused the country of becoming a secular state despite being founded in the name of Islam and highlighted Pakistan’s reliance on international monetary assistance to avoid bankruptcy.

The JUI-F, often at odds with the PTI, had previously been a part of the coalition government but distanced itself after alleging that the polls were rigged to prevent their party from gaining power. Many believe that by backing the PTI, Rehman is pressuring the establishment and government to secure a larger share in the political landscape.