APDM must respect masses wishes: Fazal

DERA ISMAIL KHAN—Central President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and General Secretary of MMA, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has termed the APDM’s call for boycotting upcoming general elections as against wishes of masses. He said this while talking with newsmen after submitting nomination papers for NA-24 in Dera Ismail Khan on Monday.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman was accompanied by party leaders and supporters in large number while filing of nomination papers at the office of concerned Returning Officer.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said people wanted representatives in assemblies through election of their respective candidates and the boycott of polls is not a correct decision.
The APDM, he continued, should not take any decision, which has no support of masses and not leave the arena for candidates of other parties. Maulana Fazlur Rehman welcomed return of former Prime Minister, Mian Nawaz Sharif and said that his arrival would intensify political activity in the country.
In response to a question, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said President Pervez Musharraf should fulfill his commitment and doff uniform before taking fresh oath of the office.
Secretary General of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Amir Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI), Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman has asked President General Pervez Musharraf to doff his uniform before taking the oath for the post of the President.
Talking to media men here after submitting his nomination papers for NA 24 here on Monday, the former Opposition leader in the National Assembly has emphasized the political parties not to boycott the upcoming general elections. Expressing his pleasure over the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said that it seems that his return would not bring any major change in the country’s politics as no political change was witnessed after the return of Benazir Bhutto.
Commenting on current situation in the country, the veteran politician said that except Swat, the situation in other parts of the country is not demanding the postponement of the elections. The situation in the Swat and tribal areas can be normalized if the Government has the desire but ceasefire is necessary. Responding to a question regarding the transparency of upcoming general elections, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman said that no one should remain under any delusion in this regard.
Criticizing the current policies of the United States, JUI Amir said that US wants to rule all over the world and the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq are the part of that conspiracy.
Besides Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, the candidates who submitted their nomination papers on Monday included Faisal Karim Khan Kundi of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Zahid Mohib Ullah of Jamat-e-Islami, former MNA Umar Farooq Miankhel and his brother Sanna Ullah Miankhel, Sardar Akram Ullah Khan Gandapur and his brother Sardar Israr Ullah Gandapur, independence candidate Chaudhary Muhammad Sharif Advocate, Mati Ullah Advocate, Muhammad Zubair Anjum of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and former MPA Malik Slah Uddin. The above-mentioned candidates filed their nomination papers to Returning Officer Muhammad Nasim Khan for NA 24.—Agencies