Government Has a Fake Mandate; Question Is Why Imran Khan Is Arrested, Says Maulana Fazlur Rehman

**Chakwal (Qudrat Daily):**
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has termed the current government as one with a “fake mandate,” raising questions about who actually holds power in the country and why Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan remains under arrest.

Talking to the media in Chakwal, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the government lacks a genuine public mandate and is ruling on the basis of a fake one. He claimed that despite this alleged fake mandate, the government effectively belongs only to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is merely providing support. “This is not a fake majority but a fake minority government,” he added.

He said that legislation made in violation of the Constitution amounts to rebellion against it, which automatically nullifies the government’s mandate. He stressed that opposition parties are striving to develop a consensus-based stance through mutual consultation.

Commenting on the debate surrounding the 28th constitutional amendment and the creation of new provinces, Maulana said there is a clear difference between principles and ground realities. He recalled opposing the merger of the former FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning of its negative consequences, but said the establishment ignored those concerns at the time. “Today, the same people admit it was a wrong decision, and now there is talk of dividing other provinces as well,” he remarked.

He questioned whether the ground realities are conducive to such decisions or whether the nation would later regret them again. He said decisions are often enforced through the use of power, citing the FATA merger as an example, which he claimed led to armed groups gaining control and weakening the writ of the state.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman further stated that Pakistan’s Afghan policy and counterterrorism strategy have failed to deliver positive results over the past 75 to 78 years. He emphasized that decisions should be made by politicians, with the use of power only coming afterward.

He also called for a collective opinion on flaws within the prosecution system and other institutions, adding that a clear stance would emerge during the scholars’ conference scheduled for the 22nd.

The JUI-F chief termed the denial of meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan as unfortunate in a democratic country, questioning the very basis of his arrest. “I am neither in favor of arresting politicians nor restricting meetings with them,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Maulana said the fundamental question remains who actually governs the country and who makes the real decisions. He also commented on the Army Chief’s recent address to a gathering of religious scholars, saying it should be viewed with optimism as part of a new phase.