Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

India-Pakistan

'TTP on agenda' as Fazl gears up for visit to Afghanistan

2024-01-07

[GEO.TV] Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is set to embark on his maiden visit to Afghanistan in nearly 10 years tomorrow (Sunday), sources told Geo News.

The senior politician has banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Pak-Afghan bilateral relationship among other issues on the visit's agenda, the sources said.

Interim Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Sardar Ahmed Jan Shakib on December 16, met the senior politician and invited him to visit Afghanistan. Later, Taliban government's spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Fazl's upcoming visit.

This will be Fazl's first visit since the Taliban takeover of the war-torn country following the United States withdrawal in 2021.

Fazl first visited Afghanistan in 2013 during the government of former president Hamid Karzai.

The sources said that former member of the National Assembly Jamaluddin Mehsood will accompany the JUI-F chief on the trip.

Continuous use of Afghan soil against Pakistan — an issue that Islamabad has time again raised before the Taliban-led Afghan administration — will also be discussed on the visit, sources added.

Speaking on Geo News' programme "Jirga", which will be aired tomorrow, Fazl said that he has the government's mandate for the Afghanistan visit.

"I believe in negotiations but one can move towards a comprehensive strategy only by looking at the ground realities for talks with TTP," Fazl said.

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India-Pakistan

Sunni Ulema Council's Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani gunned down in Islamabad

2024-01-06

[GEO.TV] Prominent religious figure and Sunni Ulema Council’s Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani was killed in Islamabad’s Ghauri town area on Friday, reported Geo News.

The incident happened when unknown assailants — on a motorcycle — opened fire on Usmani’s vehicle in the federal capital’s Ghauri town area.

Meanwhile, the religious body’s spokesperson Yasir Qasmi has also confirmed the death of the council’s central deputy general secretary.

In a statement, the Islamabad police said that one person was killed and another was injured after a vehicle was fired upon within Khanna police station’s jurisdiction.

A heavy contingent of the police is present at the crime scene, the statement from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police stated.

“[The police] are tracing the perpetrators with the help of [footages taken from] close circuit television (CCTV) cameras.”

Those responsible will be soon brought to justice, the police reassured.

Meanwhile, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Memon has reached the Pakistan Institute Of Medical Sciences (PIMS) — where the deceased’s dead body was transferred after the incident.

The incident comes days after former member of National Assembly and National Democratic Movement (NDM) leader Mohsin Dawar's convoy came under a gun attack by terrorists in Tappi village North Waziristan.

However, the politician escaped unharmed as the security personnel accompanying Dawar fired back at the assailants, which forced them to flee from the scene, North Waziristan District Police Officer (DPO) Rohan Zaib confirmed to Geo News.

Earlier, the convoy of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman had also come under attack a few days ago in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan.

Ever since the Taliban-led administration took over neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan has witnessed a notable surge in terror incidents across the country with terror attacks reaching the highest level in 2023 since 2014.

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India-Pakistan

PML-N, JUI-F hit back at Bilawal as electioneering picks up pace

2023-11-22

[GEO.TV] The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have hit back at Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari after the latter raised concerns over upcoming general elections' transparency and the “denial” of the level-playing field to all political parties.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah said he would not resort to using Bilawal’s language to respond to his criticism, Geo News reported.

The PPP chief in his recent public addresses launched a tirade against the PML-N leadership, calling it “mehangai [inflation] league” and accusing its supremo Nawaz Sharif of receiving preferential treatment from the caretaker government.

Bilawal has also cast doubts on the transparency of the upcoming general elections, claiming that no one would accept the results of the polls if results were manipulated in favour of any political party.

“The PML-N does not want to increase bitterness that’s why we are not responding to Bilawal’s [criticism] in his own language,” Sanaullah said in today’s media talk.

Despite adopting anti-PML-N rhetoric, the former security czar said the ex-foreign minister would not be able to woo anti-PML-N voters by “heaping praise” on the PML-N.

Besides Punjab, he said the PML-N would secure a majority from other provinces as well in the upcoming elections.

The PML-N stalwart also emphasised the need for working together for the country’s betterment. “We have to work together If the country has to move forward.”

Sanaullah said that his party exercised restraint as both parties were allies in the previous coalition government led by the PML-N.

Fazl advises against political bitterness
Meanwhile, speaking to the media after meeting Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazl said his party would not adopt an aggressive stance against the PPP and would maintain contact with other political parties as well.

“There is a difference between the thinking of an elderly person and a child. This difference is visible in the statements of Bilawal,” the JUI-F chief said referring to his statement that youth should be given a chance to lead the country instead of the elderly.

Fazl called for promoting reconciliation and harmony in order to avoid confrontational politics during the election campaign.

He also advised against casting aspersions on the transparency of polls saying that the country cannot afford the disputed elections.

The JUI-F said his party has decided to work together with PML-N in the future and would also enter into seat adjustment with its ally.

Political activities are on the rise in the country after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), following the Supreme Court's intervention, announced that the polls in the country will take place on February 8, 2024.

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India-Pakistan

Suicide bomber suspected as explosion at Islamist rally in Pakistan kills at least 40, wounds more than 150

2023-07-30

[NY Post] An explosion ripped through an Islamist political rally in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 40 people and injuring more than 150 others, police said.

The Inspector General of Police for the Bajaur district said the blast, likely a suicide bombing, took place in the town of Khar as hundreds gathered to rally behind the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) group.

Officials believe the attack was targeting members of the political group, with its regional leader, Maulana Ziaullah, among those who died in the blast, according to the Associated Press.

Officials said the event was held close to a market square in the town, and was guarded by volunteer party members holding batons.

Despite the security, police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told reporters a suicide bomber likely sneaked into the venue and set off the explosion just as high ranking leaders for the political party arrived.

First responders rushed to the scene, with local broadcasts showing rescue workers carrying the injured away as other residents flee in panic.

Bajaur officials declared a health emergency given the high number of casualties and injuries; the total number of wounded was expected to rise..

Adam Khan, 45, was at the rally when the explosion knocked him to the ground and left him with splinters all over his hands and leg.

"There was all dust and smoke around and I was under the some injured people from where I hardly (could stand) up but only to see chaos and some scattered limbs," he told the AP.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl has been previously targeted by ISIS.

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India-Pakistan

Fazl reiterates demand for new elections, warns govt of serious consequences Listen

2019-12-02

[The News (Pak)] Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...the political wing of the Pak Taliban...
-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman

...Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty...
on Sunday reiterated the demand for new elections and warned the government that if it turned down his demands, it would have to deal with harsh circumstances.

Fazl was addressing a presser where he lashed out at the government.

"Our economy is in its worst condition," he said. "Unemployment is on the rise and people have lost the power to spend."

Fazl said that institutions had lost their ability to produce. He said that the business community was concerned while hundreds of thousands were becoming unemployed.

The JUI-F chief said that elections were the only way forward for the country.

"New elections must be held across the country," he said. "Our protests in certain areas of the country is going on."

Fazl criticised Prime Minister Imran and said that the government was a mafia.

"He [Prime Minister Imran] refers to others as a mafia whereas he and others are a mafia themselves," he said.

He said that the Azadi March had united the entire country and brought it on one common platform. Fazl was of the view that the incumbent government was an inept one and that Pakistain needed a strong political system.

"The Azadi March was a historic event. Its effects are still being felt in Pak politics," said Fazl.

The JUI-F chief said that his party had decided to be the spokesperson of the poor in the country.

Fazl said that Pakistain's foreign policy had performed poorly and as a result, Pakistain stood alone in the world.

"Our friends are even not willing to stand with us," he said.

Link

India-Pakistan

Rangers kill Jundallah chief in Hub

2016-11-13

QUETTA - Pakistan-based Jundallah Amir Arif alias Saqib was reportedly killed on Friday by Rangers.

The Rangers sources said their crews operating in Hub killed on Friday the amir of Pakistan-based Jundallah, an outlawed outfit Arif. Arif alias Saqib was mastermind of suicide explosions in Balochistan.

“He was amir of Jundallah group in Pakistan and was manipulating subversive activities jointly with Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and Islamic State (IS) in the country,” revealed the sources. A huge quantity of explosive materials along with arms was also recovered.

Apart from Pakistan, the Jundallah amir was also most wanted in Iran in scores of subversive activities, the sources said.

“Acting upon a tip off by intelligence agencies, Rangers’ anti-terrorist force Thursday night conducted an operation at a suspected militant hideout in the Hub area of Balochistan,” read a statement issued by a Rangers spokesperson, reported a private TV channel.

“During the exchange of fire, the Jundallah chief and nominated deputy chief of Tehreek-e-Taliban Sindh, Saqib alias Arif alias Anjum, was killed,” the statement added.

The Rangers spokesperson also revealed that the Jundallah chief along with members of Al-Qaeda, Jamaatul Ahrar and Islamic State was involved in several high-profile terror acts.

Some of them were allegedly involved in various terror activities, including an attack on the vehicle of the then Karachi Corps Commander Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem, a suicide hit on Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Quetta, assassination of chief security officer of former president Asif Ali Zardari, Bilal Sheikh and attack on a church and members of minority communities.

The Rangers statement also claimed that the killed militant was planning major terror attacks on Rangers’ headquarters and the SSU headquarters in Karachi.

The paramilitary force also recovered explosives from the suspect’s house, which was being used as a factory for preparing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), claimed the spokesperson.

The Rangers also claimed to have recovered huge quantity of automatic weapons, ammunition and hand grenades.

TWO TERRORISTS KILLED IN PANJGUR

Two terrorists were killed and a security personnel injured during operation of the Frontier Corps (FC) and sensitive agencies against the extremists in Panjgur on Friday.

FC spokesman said the paramilitary force in collaboration with sensitive agencies conducted a joint operation against militants in Panjgur district. During operation two terrorists were killed, another injured while one security personnel was also wounded in the firing exchange.

The security personnel recovered arms and explosives from the possession of the terrorists. The injured FC was man shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, eight operatives of the banned outfit were detained on Friday after exchange of fire with security forces.

According to FC Balochistan spokesman, law-enforcing agencies apprehended eight terrorists of BLF and recovered RPG7 rockets, five rifles, explosive materials, IEDs, 63kg hashish and communication instruments from their custody.

Link

India-Pakistan

Nationalists refuse to attend All-Parties Conference on Balochistan

2012-02-27

QUETTA: Baloch and Pashtun nationalists have declined the invitation of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council to participate in the All-Parties Conference (APC) on Balochistan, scheduled to be held in Quetta today (Monday).

They still don't trust Rehman Malik. Wonder why...

Major political parties, including the Balochistan National Party (BNP), National Party (NP), Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) have reportedly received the formal invitation for the APC. It will be useless if stakeholders concerned like BNP, NP and JWP are not taking part in this conference.

The Baloch National Front, an alliance of several hardliner nationalist parties and students organisations, had already boycotted the APC. On the other hand, the DFCs contact committee is busy in persuading political and nationalist parties for the past four days to ensure their participation, but Balochistan PPP former president Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, JWP President Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti and PML-N leader General (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch have announced their boycott of the APC. Arrangements have been finalised for the APC, which would be chaired by DFC Chairman Samiul Haq. All leaders of the council, including Maulana Samiul Haq, JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch, Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed, former ISI chief General (r) Hameed Gul, Jamaat Ahle-Sunnat leader Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Ulema Pakistan Council leader Tahir Ashrafi and PML-Zia President Ejazul Haq have reached to attend the APC.

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India-Pakistan

KP Assembly says no to amendment in blasphemy law

2011-01-08

[Pak Daily Times] The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
Assembly unanimously passed a joint resolution on Friday, demanding the federal government make no amendment to the blasphemy law.

The movers of the joint resolution also demanded that the head of the committee formed by the federal government with regard to the blasphemy law should not be a non-Mohammedan.

Mufti Kafayatullah of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said the federal government should avoid any proposed change or repeal of the law as it was a sensitive issue. The JUI-F member underlined the need for unity among all political and religious parties against terrorism, price hike and unemployment. Others who tabled the resolution included Awami National Party (ANP) Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Pakistain People's Party parliamentary leader Abdul Akbar Khan, Pakistain Mohammedan League-Nawaz (PML-N) parliamentary leader Pir Sabir Shah, PPP-Sherpao members Muhammad Ali Khan and Israrullah Khan Gandapur, Provincial Government Spokesman Mian Iftikhar Hussain, minority member Kishore Kumar, Senior Minister Rahim Dad Khan, and JUI-F's Malik Muhammad Qasim, Hafiz Akhtar Ali, Dr Iqbal Din Fana and Mufti Said Janan.

Dr Fana told the House that 137 security guards, who were deployed at oil and gas reservoirs in Kohat and Karak, were on strike as they were deprived of five percent bonus. He asked the government to direct OGDCL and Fauji Foundation to give bonus to the striking security guards.

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India-Pakistan

Govt has no intention to repeal blasphemy law, NA told

2010-12-30

[Pak Daily Times] The government on Wednesday issued a policy statement on the blasphemy law while Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Shah informed the National Assembly that the government had no intention to repeal the law.
"Really, looking foolish on an international scale doesn't bother us a bit."
Speaking on the floor of the House, Shah presented the policy statement of the government on amendment in the blasphemy law. "On behalf of the government as taking the minorities into confidence, I state with full responsibility that the government has no intention to cancel it (Tahafooz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat)," he said. Shah also clarified that a bill by Sherry Rehman seeking amendment in the blasphemy law was a private member bill and the government would not support any such amendment.

"It is the prime duty of the government to ensure Tahafooz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat. I also assure the minorities of the country that the law would not be used to target them," Shah said. Responding on the policy statement of the government, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl's Maulana Attaur Rehman asked Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to assure the House on the issue.

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India-Pakistan

Fazl demands PM Gilani's resignation

2010-12-29

[Pak Daily Times]

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Tuesday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, compounding pressure on the coalition government.

JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman made the call just hours after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) announced that it was quitting the federal cabinet, although it would not join the opposition. "The prime minister should resign and the PPP should appoint a new one," Fazl told news hounds. "He (Gilani) has sabotaged the process of reconciliation among coalition partners and his actions have caused political instability in the country," he said, "The government is under pressure and the president will have to take this step."

The JUI-F chief demanded an in-house change in parliament to protect the democratic system. He said due to the current political situation, coalition partners were leaving the government. He said in the prevailing situation, it was necessary for the government of the Pakistain People's Party (PPP) to announce the name of new premier for continuation of democracy in the country. The JUI chief appealed to President Asif Ali President Ten Percent Zardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who showed remarkably little curiosity about who actually done her in ...
to take action against those who undermined his policy of reconciliation. He expressed concern that there were threats to democracy and demanded the government take steps in the right direction.

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India-Pakistan

Fazl hints at rejoining coalition government

2010-12-27

[Pak Daily Times] Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman signalled that he could join rejoin treasury benches again if his demands were met, a private TV channel reported on Sunday.

Addressing a JUI convention at Shahi Bagh in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar, he said his party did not separate from the government because of dismissal of a minister. The government compelled the party to part ways, he added.

The government did not honour its promises made with his party. "We are not turbans. We have honoured all promises made with the government. It is the government, which deviated from the promises made with the party," Fazl said. "We have no lust for power, but I assure you that in the greater interest of the country, the JUI-F could review its decision to quit the government," the channel said.

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India-Pakistan

JUI-F criticises US reports over operation

2010-12-24

[Pak Daily Times] Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazalur Rehman on Thursday strongly criticised US media reports over the military operation in the Tribal Area of Pakistain, saying that the Pakistain Army should announce 'jihad' in response to the US forces' ground retaliation in North Wazoo.

While speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, he expressed dismay over the policies adopted by the present Pakistain People's Party-led government, particularly regarding the on-going war against terror in the country.

Referring to a news report published in The New York Times regarding a US plan to carry out ground incursions in North Wazoo, the JUI-F chief announced that his party would not let any foreign troops into the country's soil and also urged the army to declare jihad in case US troops carry out the attacks in the Tribal Area.

He said that Pakistain wanted good ties with the US but the relationship must not be that of a "slave and master."

He said that the PPP-led government had failed to act upon its promises as the JUI-F had joined the coalition government under an agreement. "I have declared my seat and those of other party members on the treasury benches as opposition benches, unless the House allocates us seats on opposition benches," he added.

Fazl assured the House that he was not a threat for the democratic system in the country, however he termed the rulers a threat to the shariah and Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat movement. "The JUI-F can continue to be a friend, but not a 'peasant' for the prime minister," he said.

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