PESHAWAR: The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) on Monday rejected an ‘unjustified’ increase in petroleum prices and announced countrywide protest rallies at all district headquarters on Friday to pressure the government into reversing the decision.
Addressing a news conference after a two-day meeting of the party’s central consultative body (Majlis-e-Shura), JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman criticised the government for linking the price hike to supply constraints caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The government claims that ten ships under its flag crossed the Strait of Hormuz. Where did those ships go? Was the oil offloaded in Karachi or transported onward, and what revenue was generated?” he asked, challenging the official stance.
He accused the government of handling critical domestic and international matters irresponsibly amid the prevailing situation. The JUIF also called for an in-camera session of parliament to deliberate on the regional situation following US-Israel attacks on Iran and their implications for Pakistan, stressing the need to take the nation into confidence.
On regional tensions, Fazlur Rehman strongly condemned the actions of Israel, particularly legislation allowing death sentences for Palestinian prisoners, terming it a violation of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions. He urged the United Nations to intervene and halt what he described as inhuman actions.
Reaffirming support for the Palestinian cause, he said Israel, backed by the US, had expanded the conflict to Iran and Lebanon, leading to its growing international isolation.
“It has become difficult for Israel to maintain its existence. The world has now seen its real face,” he said. He further criticised the Donald Trump administration for its support of Israel, claiming it had led to increasing isolation both globally and domestically, with protests emerging within the United States.
Fazlur Rehman alleged that despite these developments, the government was attempting to appease Washington while diverting public attention from core domestic issues, adding that the Muslim world was under mounting pressure.
The Maulana said the JUIF leadership held detailed deliberations on the prevailing national and international situation, expressing particular concern over the sharp rise in fuel prices, which he said was directly affecting every citizen.
The party also criticised the closure of borders with neighbouring countries, particularly Afghanistan and India, arguing that such measures had restricted Pakistan’s trade and global connectivity while neighbouring states continued to access international markets through alternative routes.
On legislation, Fazlur Rehman said several laws enacted over the past decade — including those related to domestic violence, transgender rights, and amendments to Muslim family laws — were contrary to Sharia. He also opposed the ban on marriages under the age of 18 and proposals regarding women’s share in spousal income, terming them un-Islamic.
He claimed that these measures were largely derived from legal frameworks in the United Kingdom and other non-Muslim countries. “We have no personal enmity with anyone, but we consider this government illegitimate,” he said, criticising both the Pakistan Muslim League and Pakistan Peoples Party for supporting each other.
He alleged that parliamentary authority had been misused to pass laws against religious principles and maintained that citizens had the right to resist such policies. The JUIF chief also expressed concern over the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that the provincial government, led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, had lost its writ in the province.
Responding to a question about a proposed 28th constitutional amendment, he said no concrete steps had been taken so far and described the discussion as largely speculative. However, he stressed the need for opposition parties to unite against any legislation that contradicts the spirit of the Constitution.
Announcing the party’s future strategy, he said a major public gathering would be held in Mardan on April 12 to formally launch a nationwide protest movement against government policies.
