The chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Fazl-ur-Rehman, on Saturday urged the political forces to unite for a transparent voters' list, an acceptable caretaker government, and an independent election commission, to hold transparent election in the country.
Talking to a group of newsmen and editors at Saima Trade Centre, he said the general election was expected this year. Besides terming the media role significant he urged that it should be responsible during the polls. He said if the government and concerned institutions willed, the trend of polls rigging could be controlled.
He said that the Afghan Taliban were fighting an 'independence war' against foreign aggression, which his party was supporting. However, he detached his party from any armed struggle in gaining goals inside Pakistan. He said that the Afghanistan government had also recognised the Taliban as an opposition party. "Taliban are a reality in Afghanistan," he added.
He urged the political forces in Pakistan to sense the difficulties, which the country had continued to undergo and play their judicious role to solve them. "With a joint effort, we could bring the country out of the problems," he added. Fazl said the government needed to revisit its policy towards India as both countries have several disputes. He also called for remaking of foreign policy towards the US, saying that the two countries' relations should be based on equality, and not as master and servant.
He said the previous Pakistan government's policy on Kashmir issue had been unclear, which largely governed verbally and there had been no documentation of the agreements. "It is an alarming situation," he said. The chief of JUI-F said that the media's responsibility became greater, and it should remain impartial to give due coverage to all parties.