From Our Correspondent:
PISHIN, Balochistan: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has vowed to fight for the rights of the Baloch and Pashtun people in Balochistan, declaring that no one would be allowed to occupy “even an inch” of their land.
Addressing the “Huqooq-e-Balochistan and Tahaffuz-e-Madaris Conference” in Pishin, the veteran religious and political leader criticized government policies, alleged electoral irregularities, and raised concerns over restrictions on religious seminaries (madaris).
“We will continue the struggle for the rights of the Baloch and Pashtun people of Balochistan and will not allow anyone to seize even an inch of their land,” Fazlur Rehman told a large gathering.
The JUI-F chief strongly criticized the state of education in the province, saying government schools were not functioning effectively while private religious seminaries were facing increasing restrictions. He also said his party does not recognize what he described as “rigged assemblies.”
Criticism of Security Policies and Economy
Speaking on terrorism and national security, Fazlur Rehman questioned the effectiveness of counterterrorism operations, arguing that despite repeated military actions, the problem had worsened over time.
“The more operations carried out against terrorism, the more the disease spread,” he said, while also criticizing border closures, claiming they had harmed the country economically.
He blamed bureaucracy, the establishment, and what he termed a failed foreign policy for isolating Pakistan economically and politically. Fazlur Rehman further claimed that attempts to normalize relations with Israel had been resisted.
Call for Islamic Unity
The JUI-F leader called on Muslim nations to unite and form a stronger bloc, saying Islamic powers should work together for collective strength and stability.
He also criticized the practice of labeling patriotic citizens as traitors due to disagreements with the establishment, saying such thinking must change.
“Religious seminaries are being targeted under a Western agenda, but no force can eliminate madaris,” he asserted.
Remarks on Nationalism and Political Parties
Fazlur Rehman also took aim at nationalist political forces, claiming they lacked strength, while asserting that JUI-F had historically worked to unite the nation against sectarianism and ethnic divisions.
He questioned why the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) remained silent on protecting the Constitution and the 18th Amendment, saying JUI-F would safeguard the constitutional framework introduced during the era of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Massive Gathering in Pishin
Calling the Pishin gathering one of the largest in the area’s history, Fazlur Rehman praised supporters who traveled long distances despite difficult conditions and government hurdles.
“This massive public gathering reflects growing public confidence,” he said, while highlighting what he described as JUI-F’s two-century legacy of sacrifice and struggle.
Several party leaders and speakers, including Maulana Abdul Wasey, Younas Aziz Zehri, Maulana Salahuddin Ayubi, Kamran Murtaza Advocate, Asghar Tareen, Hafiz Hamdullah, Malik Sikandar Advocate, Zabid Reki, Faiz Muhammad, Ainullah Shams, and Abdul Rahman Rafiq, also addressed the conference.
Fazlur Rehman concluded his speech by emphasizing JUI-F’s historic role in shaping Pakistan’s constitutional framework, saying the party played a key role in helping the country achieve a consensus-based Islamic Constitution.
