Fazl sees no room for talks with govt

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday expressed concern over the country's internal situation, accusing the government of refusing to listen to the people, using force indiscriminately and denying political parties their right to protest, while claiming that Islamabad had been "filled with containers" to prevent demonstrations. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Fazl said the law and order situation was alarming, saying there was a "reign of dacoits" in Sindh while banks were being looted in broad daylight in Balochistan, yet no effective system was visible to prevent such incidents. He said powerful institutions were effectively running the country and, according to him, appeared to be accountable neither to the law and Constitution nor to any moral code. Fazl said the previous government had been criticised over its borrowing, but the debt burden on the country had now increased much further, while inflation had also risen and the public was facing growing hardship. He accused the rulers of being unwilling to listen to the people or understand their problems, alleging that force was being used indiscriminately and that people were being denied their right to protest. He said Islamabad had been filled with containers after political parties announced demonstrations. The JUI-F chief said ministers were being "picked up" in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, banks were being robbed in broad daylight in Balochistan and there was a "reign of dacoits" in Sindh. He called for effective measures to establish law and order, uphold the Constitution and the law, and protect the basic rights of citizens. Fazl said the present government was representing the establishment rather than the people and warned that the country had reached a dangerous situation. He criticised the rulers for remaining preoccupied with tours and tourism while the country, in his words, was sitting on a "barrel of gunpowder". He said peaceful protest was the right of every political party and that inflation had reached a level where people could no longer afford even their medical treatment. According to Fazl, the rulers' eyes and ears were closed and they were neither seeing nor hearing the problems confronting the public. He said the country had effectively become a "besieged state", arguing that while the house was already on fire, new disputes were being created. Fazl said the country was currently sitting on a "barrel of gunpowder", yet issues relating to the provinces and mineral resources were being opened up. He maintained that it was not possible to form a government without JUI-F and, even if one was formed without it, it could not function. He said cooperation with all political parties inside Parliament and the formation of a united opposition had been endorsed. Fazl also made clear his position on dialogue with the government, saying JUI-F regarded the present setup as a representative of the establishment and therefore talks were not possible with it. He said dialogue could take place if there were a representative government.

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