In a compelling statement, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUIF), stressed that the top priority for Pakistan should be the stabilization of its national economy, not elections.
Addressing the media in Sahiwal, Maulana Fazlur Rehman underscored that while all political parties within the PDM alliance were consistently prepared for elections, the foremost concern should be the economic betterment of the nation.
He highlighted the critical importance of economic stability, emphasizing that nations with fragile economies often struggle to maintain their sovereignty. He made it clear that his party, JUIF, had been advocating for elections for an extended period of three-and-a-half years.
The Maulana acknowledged the potential challenges in implementing the proposed election schedule for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province at the end of January next year, particularly due to harsh winter weather conditions.
Responding to media inquiries, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the existing system of caretaker governments, humorously noting that another overseer seemed to be running the government.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman attributed the present state of affairs in the country to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, alleging that the PTI leadership had led to a significant decline in foreign exchange reserves, which plummeted to a mere $2 billion.
Drawing a stark contrast, he pointed out that the PDM government had managed to elevate foreign exchange reserves to $11 billion within a year and a half.
The Maulana went on to assert that PTI leaders were still facing legal cases in court due to their alleged wrongdoings. He maintained that Imran Khan’s actions had exposed his incompetence as a leader. He asserted that Pakistan’s friendly nations would be reluctant to extend assistance unless there was a guarantee that the PTI would not return to power.
Regarding the anticipated return of Mian Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazlur Rehman called for a warm and inclusive welcome from all quarters. He revealed that the PDM alliance was currently inactive, indicating that Nawaz Sharif would make the necessary arrangements for his reception.
Responding to another query, Maulana Fazlur Rehman acknowledged that the recent wave of terrorism had sent a message to the world that Pakistan was grappling with internal security challenges.