Fazlur Rehman Says Political Differences With PTI Have Narrowed Significantly

Islamabad: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that he has substantially reduced political differences with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite being one of its strongest critics in the past.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Fazlur Rehman stated that if the government is reluctant to convene an in-camera parliamentary session due to concerns over possible protests by PTI members, he is willing to guarantee their conduct.

The JUI-F leader also criticized what he described as a media blackout of opposition speeches, alleging that the state-run television broadcaster does not adequately present the opposition’s viewpoint despite all lawmakers having equal rights in Parliament.

Referring to opposition politics, Fazlur Rehman noted that Mahmood Khan Achakzai serves as the opposition leader with the support of opposition parties. He also discussed the Charter of Democracy, saying that although neither he nor PTI’s founding chairman were signatories to the agreement, they regard it as a national consensus document aimed at strengthening democratic norms.

He recalled that one of the principles of the Charter was that political parties should not seek to bring down each other’s governments. Fazlur Rehman added that political competition would continue once all parties have equal opportunities to participate in the democratic process.

Commenting on the economy, he said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had once promised to improve economic conditions within six months. However, he argued that instead of meaningful reforms, the country’s debt burden has increased.

“Every Pakistani today carries a debt burden of approximately Rs325,000,” he claimed, adding that poverty levels have risen and that ordinary citizens are struggling to make ends meet on limited incomes.

On constitutional matters, Fazlur Rehman expressed concern over discussions regarding a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment and any efforts to undermine the 18th Amendment. He said provincial rights must be protected and specifically urged the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to remain vigilant on the issue.

The JUI-F chief described the federal budget as a traditional budget that the government is portraying as a success, while arguing that economic realities on the ground present a different picture.

He also criticized the lack of progress on eliminating interest-based financial practices despite existing legislation. According to him, recommendations made by the Council of Islamic Ideology have not received sufficient parliamentary attention, and commitments made under previous constitutional reforms have not been fully implemented.

Discussing regional issues, Fazlur Rehman said that the concerns and demands of the people of Kashmir can be addressed through dialogue and negotiations, emphasizing that violence should not be the preferred path.

He further stated that religious scholars affiliated with his party have been targeted because of their support for democracy and constitutional politics. He also complained that commitments regarding provincial financial rights and the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award have yet to be fully honored.