World Faces Risk of Nuclear War After Abduction of Venezuelan President, Says Maulana Fazlur Rehman

Dera Ismail Khan: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has warned that the world is facing the danger of a nuclear war following what he alleged to be the abduction of the Venezuelan president by the United States.

Speaking during a meeting with tribal elders from Wana and Lakki Marwat at his residence in Shorkot, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that after the failure of communism and capitalist democracy, extraordinary changes are taking place in the global order. He stated that the collapse of old political and economic systems has shaken the world.

He said that in the rapidly changing global political landscape, the collective wisdom of Pakistan’s national leadership is now being tested. “Instead of deepening political conflicts, there is a need to promote national harmony in these critical times,” he added.

The JUI-F chief said that over the past 200 years, the region has experienced various political systems, including monarchies, colonial rule, democracy, and communism, but none succeeded in fulfilling the goal of human welfare. He claimed that all existing political systems have failed to address human suffering or establish truly welfare-oriented societies.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman further stated that in the 17th century, humanity was told that scientific progress would solve all problems, but instead of serving human welfare, science became a tool for power and bloodshed. He said major powers developed atomic and hydrogen bombs and other ruthless weapons, leading to the deaths of millions. Referring to recent events, he alleged that Israel used chemical weapons in Gaza, resulting in the killing of more than 80,000 innocent civilians, pushing humanity to the brink of destruction.

Criticizing Western philosophies, he said that the Renaissance and Enlightenment movements destroyed the purpose of life and the family system. “The Western man is depressed, the woman is distressed, and every individual is suffering from crowded loneliness,” he remarked, adding that Western philosophers are now struggling to restore meaning to life.

Concluding his address, Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged intellectuals, politicians, bureaucrats, and military leadership to learn from history and initiate a serious debate on establishing a consultative (Shura-based) system in line with modern-day requirements. He expressed confidence that such a system could help build a welfare society, protect public sovereignty, and ensure accountability of rulers before the people.