PESHAWAR - Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman Sunday said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been handed over to ‘kids’ and it was not easy for the inexperienced lot to run the affairs of this most difficult province.
He said efforts were being made for 10 years for the so-called change in the province. “And now the same lobby is out to remove Islamic chapters from textbooks, but JUI-F will not allow any such change in syllabus, he said at an education seminar held here under the banner of Wahdat-e-Asatiza, a sister organisation of the party. The JUI-F leader said KPK was being ruled by an NGO and he knew its goals.
He recalled efforts had been made to change syllabus during the Musharraf-government, but it was the then MMA government that refused to do so.
Fazl termed the proposed changes in syllabus as an international conspiracy and said they would vehemently resist the un-Islamic modification in curriculum. He was of the view that the PTI government in the province was determined to introduce secular changes in the education system to do away with Islamic identity and Pakhtun culture in the region.
He said the entire system in the province had virtually been handed over to non-governmental organisations. It was not a problem of JUI-F alone, but of all the people of the entire province, he said.
Fazl said JUI-F could be ousted from government and the Parliament, but not from the hearts and minds of the people. He vowed to continue struggle against unlawful and un-Islamic practices on the streets.
Later, while talking to media people, he said Taliban’s statement about the Peshawar church attack was an isolated thinking and ulema were unanimous that killing of innocent people was haram (forbidden) in Islam.
“There are no two opinions that killing of innocent people irrespective of their faith is haram and forbidden in Islam. The process of talks with Taliban had started right after the all parties’ conference in Islamabad on September 9. However, modalities for the process, identification of negotiating parties and role of jirga have yet to be finalised,” he said.
Fazl revealed he would visit Afghanistan soon on the invitation of Afghan President Hamid Karzai to know the factual situation in the war-torn country where efforts were also underway for talks between the warring sides.
Fazl described the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government as a provincial non-government organisation (NGO). “I know the agenda of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which is a provincial NGO,” he said.
Peace talks began with Taliban right after an all-party conference (APC), he said. “Terror incidents won’t hamper the ongoing peace talks,” he commented.
Fazl said Islam teaches moderation, but some elements demand Islamic law in the country through use of force.
He stressed the need for motivating youth to seek religious education as it is a constitutional requirement. He said politics of conspiracies needs to be avoided.
He said JUI-F had promoted Islamic education in KPK, but some people from the current provincial government alleged they were cleansing the JUI-F’s stuff. He added the Jewish lobby was working in KPK.