ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that natural resources of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belong to the local people, adding that if the multinational companies invest, the jobs and benefits must go the locals.
While addressing an All Parties Conference organized by the Awami National Party in Islamabad, JUI-F Chief said that armed groups have taken control of tribal regions and questioning the writ of the government. He criticized the move to revive the jirga system in former FATA areas nearly a decade after the merger, questioning the motives behind such decisions, adding that if peace has deteriorated, why are the people being blamed? Where are the promises made to the tribes?, he asked.
He also called into question the country’s political and parliamentary systems, warning against undermining the democratic rights of citizens, adding that stealing the public’s vote was not acceptable in the past, and it is not acceptable now.
Speaking on national policy, Maulana Fazlur Rehman argued that while the National Action Plan is often referenced, it is not part of the Constitution or law, but merely a declaration from an APC. “We need a National Economic Plan that guarantees ownership and benefits for the people,” he added.
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Regarding the deportation of Afghan refugees, Mualana Fazalur Rehman said forced deportation in the current climate is unjust. He urged authorities to categorize refugees, noting that many have invested in Pakistan over the years and contributed significantly to society. Afghan students who have become engineers and doctors are part of our skilled workforce, don’t waste that. Let the students complete their education, he said.
