The JUI-F could not accept the armed forces’ alleged interference in politics, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Sunday as he called for all institutions to stick to their domain.

Fazl was addressing reporters in Islamabad about the decisions taken by the party’s Majlis-e-Shoora, which reaffirmed that the Constitution decides the domain of every institution.

“All institutions, including the Armed Forces of Pakistan, should stick to their domain and play their role according to the Constitution,” he said, “the whole nation is standing beside the army for the country’s defence, but interference in political matters is against their oath and Constitution that we cannot accept.”

While speaking about the counterterrorism campaign Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, he said that it lacked concentration and claimed that people in the country were raising questions about the increase in terrorist activities despite operations against terrorism since 2001.

He claimed that the people were unsafe in the country. According to Fazl, the people have suffered a lot after the operations as the promises made to them and the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Area were not fulfilled.

“It is a must for us not to utter a word against the state and state institutions, but when will they realise their responsibilities and fulfil the ambitions of the people,” the JUI-F chief.

He reiterated his party’s support for Pakistan-China relations and claimed that the country has not been able to restore the neighbouring country’s trust in investment in the country.

He also demanded fresh elections in Pakistan as he reiterated his concerns over the February general elections, which showed PTI-backed independent candidates winning a majority of the seats.

“We are still committed to our positive attitudes, but it has to be understood that the PTI leadership lacks concentration,” he said.

In the recent past, the PTI members have held meetings with the JUI-F in its anti-government movement as the Imran Khan-led party believes their mandate was stolen in the February 2024 elections.

The incumbent government has rejected such claims and advised the party to approach relevant fora like the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Supreme Court to present their case.

But the PTI has been wary of the judiciary, with their incarcerated leader behind bars for almost 11 months.

Fazl admitted that delegations from PTI called on them with messages from Khan. “But they have so far not made any official announcement of negotiating team,” he said and quoted the Sunni Ittehad Council leader as saying that the religiopolitical party cannot have any alliance with the JUI-F.

“Now we are having difficulty in having an opinion after these two opinions,” Fazl said and added that political parties do not step back from talks.

On the US Congress resolution on Pakistan’s elections, he wondered whether it was a failure of Pakistan’s diplomacy and lobby.

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He added that the party has decided to continue its struggle for democracy rather than wait to be part of any alliance. Fazl added that the process of negotiations would be considered a positive step and “the JUI-F will try to join the effort for making an enabling environment between political parties.”

While reacting to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s statement to hit terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, he said that it was not new as similar attacks were made after 9/11. “You have failed in stopping terrorism in Pakistan and now you are trying to hide your failures by speaking about attacking terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan.”