The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has called for the resignation of caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti after he said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman faced security threats.
“If you [Bugti] cannot fulfil your responsibility then resign,” JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah said in a post on X.
The statement came after Bugti said that there was a security threat against JUI-F chief, while a general security threat persists against the country’s political leadership as a whole.
“Is there a conspiracy to keep Maulana away from people? And if it is a conspiracy then who is behind it?” Hamdullah wondered.
He also questioned the competence of Bugti who according to him was only limited to issuing security alert.
“Caretaker interior minister should clarify whether it’s his responsibility to merely inform about the security threat or provide actual security?” he said, adding that Rehman has not been given security despite security concerns.
A day earlier, the interior minister said that the political leaders of the country were facing threats as they began their electoral campaign.
“It is part of politics for leaders to go out and meet their people. We cannot ask them to stay home. But we can ensure peaceful elections,” he added.
According to him, the authorities received a threat alert regarding Rehman. In general, the political gatherings were also facing threats, he said.
It is pertinent to mention that at least 63 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up during the public gathering of JUI-F in KP’s Bajaur district on July 30. A terrorist organisation claimed responsibility for the attack.
Later, Hamdullah claimed that the KP administration did not provide security to their workers’ convention despite approaching them.
“We had approached the management for the convention, but the management did not provide security, and excused to give security,” he said on Aaj News show Spot Light on Monday. “When the chief secretary came, there was heavy security with him. But security was not provided to rallies.”
