Maulana Fazlur Rehman Threatens to March on Islamabad, Vows No One Will Block His Path

Peshawar: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), issued a strong warning during his speech at an “Israel Murad Bad” (Death to Israel) conference. He asserted that if he and his followers decide to march on Islamabad, no one would be able to stop them. He boldly declared, “If we decide to come, your bullets will run out, but our chests will not,” and emphasized that no one could outdo their strength. “Stay within the limits of decency; no one is a bigger troublemaker than us.”
Fazlur Rehman also stated that although his party holds a minor presence in parliament, it commands an unmatchable level of support among the public, which no political party could rival. He further criticized the government for trying to bypass them during recent legislative proceedings. Referring to the government’s secrecy surrounding amendments in bills, he said that lawmakers were given just 9 hours to approve changes, a process he claimed was deliberately hidden from their party.
The JUI leader also highlighted the party’s efforts in safeguarding the constitution, democracy, judiciary, and parliament. He recalled how his party had thwarted efforts to undermine these institutions and revealed that for 9 months, his party had been in talks regarding the religious schools bill, which the government had initially approved, only to be halted by external forces.
Fazlur Rehman alleged that some political forces, believing his party would tire out, had been trying to block the bill, which had received consensus within the opposition alliance, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N). Despite this, the bill had not been signed by President Asif Zardari, prompting Fazl to accuse the government of deceit and bad faith.
In a powerful declaration, Maulana Fazlur Rehman reiterated the JUI’s commitment to supporting the rights of Palestinians, mentioning the party’s recent large rally in Peshawar aimed at showing solidarity with the Palestinian cause. He also condemned Western powers, accusing them of perpetrating mass killings during World War I, World War II, and in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine.
Toward the end of his address, Fazlur Rehman asked his supporters if they were ready for a march on Islamabad, asserting, “This battle will be won by us.” He also mentioned consultations with prominent religious figures like Mufti Taqi Usmani to prepare for future action, urging his followers to stay ready for a call to action.
Fazlur Rehman also expressed frustration with the media’s portrayal of religious scholars, warning against attempts to pit clerics against each other. He emphasized that JUI would not tolerate interference in religious schools and their administrative structure, insisting that the educational institutions should remain independent, as outlined in a 2010 agreement that he claimed was being violated.
The speech ended with a defiant note: “We will not be subjugated by anyone; we will continue to fight for our rights and stand against unjust policies.”