Maulana Fazlur Rehman Urges Religious School Workers to Prepare for Islamabad March
PESHAWAR ( WEB NEWS )
The head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has urged workers from religious schools to prepare for the Islamabad march. Addressing the “Israel Murdabad” conference in Peshawar, he stated that if the first draft of the 26th amendment had been approved in parliament, nothing would have been left in the country. He claimed that the draft was filled with destructive provisions, and they had removed those clauses to provide the country with a healthier constitutional amendment. He mentioned that they reduced the bill from 56 clauses to 34 and included provisions regarding interest (usury) to remove the government clauses.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasized that their parliamentary and democratic struggle had moved forward Islamic systems and laws in the country’s constitution. He said the first draft of the amendment was kept hidden from them, and they were told it had to be approved within 9 hours. However, they insisted on reviewing it carefully and approving it clause by clause, successfully preventing any attempts to infringe on the basic human rights of the public.
Regarding the religious schools bill, he stated that during Shahbaz Sharif’s 16-month government, there were discussions about a bill concerning religious schools, and the government had prepared a draft which was agreed upon by the religious schools. However, some forces intervened and blocked it in the assembly. He also mentioned that during a meeting with the Chairman of the PPP in Karachi, they spent five hours discussing the constitutional amendment and the religious schools bill, eventually reaching an agreement.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman reaffirmed that they do not accept government interference in religious schools and that the schools will continue to operate independently. He criticized the decision to create a directorate for the registration of schools, claiming it was not part of their agreement. The JUI-F leader pointed out that just as a general is considered Pakistani based on his identity card, he and his workers are also Pakistanis by the same principle, and they are fighting for the country’s survival and security. He emphasized that Pakistan is not merely the name of some government departments; it is a state based on its people.
He also stated that those who believe the religious leaders will tire and give up are mistaken, and they will continue their struggle, eventually winning this war. Regarding the ongoing massacre of Muslims in Palestine, Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the silence of the Western world, claiming they have no right to speak about human rights. He noted that Israel cannot fight Palestinian militants and is bombing innocent, helpless Muslims, and in this situation, they stand firmly with their Palestinian brothers.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman added that if the establishment of Pakistan has rejected the ideology, it is they who have done so, while he and his followers remain its true proponents. He accused the current rulers of undermining Pakistan’s founding ideology and warned that the nation would suffer the consequences of their actions. He further stated that the establishment played no role in the creation and survival of Pakistan, and if the country was to disintegrate, it would be because of their actions. He concluded by saying that they must resolve not to accept the rule of the current rulers, who are not governments of the people but of the establishment. The real struggle lies between the establishment and the people, and they stand with the people.