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QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday asserted that local body elections in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) have proved once again his party was the “biggest political power” in the province.
He made these remarks while addressing a press conference along with former Balochistan chief minister Aslam Raisani in Quetta. According to unofficial results, JUI-F’s Zubair Ali was named the winner for the coveted post of Peshawar’s mayor.
Moreover, unofficial results from the KP’s 30 tehsils show that JUI-F is leading with 13 seats, followed by PTI (6), PML-N (3), Awami National Party (3), Jamaat-i-Islami (1) and PPP (1), while independent candidates have secured three seats.
The JUI-F chief claimed that this election has proved that 2018 general elections were rigged and his party was and still the largest party of the province.
However, he went on, “Some forces have been trying to place hurdles in the way of the JUI-F.” Fazl said these forces were apprehensive about the JUI-F rising to the power as the party was inclined towards religion.
“Why we would be unacceptable to the Western world when the United States ‘allowed’ Taliban to take over Afghanistan?” he added. He added the elections results have vindicated their stance that corruption allegations had been used as a tool to victimise opposition parties.
“The practice to defame politicians should end now,” said Fazl, adding that his party could run the affairs of the state better than the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI).
In reply to a question, Fazl, who is also the head of the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), said preparations were under way for protests across the country.
He said he would soon visit Karachi where he would meet other opposition leaders to discuss the strategy for the protest to be held by the PDM on March 23.
The elections were held in 17 districts, comprising 64 tehsils, on a party-basis as per the ruling of the courts. Out of 64 tehsils, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) headed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman is leading on 18 tehsil chairperson seats, whereas the PTI is trailing behind with 14 seats.
