Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad has said that closing doors of dialogue with the government by the JUI-F could damage democratic process in the country.
While talking to reporters here on Saturday at the Railways Headquarters, he said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not yet announced any sit-in; however, he could not become a prime minister in any case.
He said more than 600 politicians would face consequences in case democracy was derailed due to the Mualana's protest. He said Fazlur Rehman's protest would damage Kashmir issue also by diverting the attention of people from atrocities of Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir.
The minister said that the government was ready to provide face-saving to Maulana, as Prime Minister Imran Khan had made a committee for dialogue with the JUI-F. Rashid said the nation had not forgotten when Maulana offered his services to the US for becoming prime minister besides resolving the Afghanistan issue.
He alleged that Fazl used Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed for his personal interests. "I am not worried about Fazlur Rehman, I am worried about madrasas and the Ulema who are already a target of Western media," he said.
The minister said that madrassas were symbols of Islam but what was Fazl expressing through baton wielders who looked like terrorists.
He alleged that Fazlur Rehman had never visited the tomb of Hazrat Quaid-e-Azam (RA), but he considered it an honour for himself when he visited Sikh's golden temple.
He said all politicians of opposition could be managed if today Imran announces an NRO which he would never do at any cost.
To a question, Rashid said that time was an important factor in politics, adding that some institutions were worried about national solidarity as well as expected anarchy in the country.
He said the National Action Plan was also under progress and everyone should be careful regarding national security. The minister said a new movement was being initiated in India, which would affect that country at large scale. However, he regretted that the opposition leadership in Pakistan was providing an opportunity to the Indian government to slow down that movement.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019