Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman has expressed serious concerns over the alleged “theft of public office” in the general elections, terming them more rigged than the 2018 polls.
At a press conference on Wednesday, he criticized institutions for manipulating election results to consolidate their power.
Rehman, who has always condemned the February 8, 2024 elections, cited the recent by-election in Balochistan for the provincial constituency PB-45 (Quetta-8) as a prime example of election rigging.
The by-election, in which the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate was declared the winner by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), was followed by a stalled strike in Balochistan led by the JUI-F.
“Institutions manipulate election results to strengthen their authority,” Rehman said, adding that political compromises are often made in the name of power. He also stressed that authoritarian forces are growing stronger due to the weaknesses of politicians.
The JUI-F leader further warned that any institution exceeding constitutional limits must reassess its behavior. “All institutions must remain within their constitutional framework,” he said, claiming that Parliament has become ineffective.
Calling for new elections, Rehman questioned why the country should accept rigged elections, saying: “If elections can be rigged, why not hold early elections?”
Replying to questions, the JUI-F chief expressed support for the ongoing negotiations between the ruling coalition and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He said, “I am a politician and I always support negotiation. There are good hopes from the talks between the government and PTI.”
He also reiterated his position that politicians should not be imprisoned, hoping that problems could be resolved through dialogue.
