LAHORE - Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad Saturday said that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman wants clash on politics and religious issues.

Addressing a press conference at the Railways Headquarters here, he said Maulana Fazlur Rehman would be directly responsible in case of unrest, anarchy and confrontation on the borders if he staged any protest.

He advised the Maulana not to involve the religious sections of society in any agitation against the government. “His agitation can damage the Kashmir freedom movement,” he added.

Sh Rashid said: “Kashmir is dearer to us than our lives.” He said the entire region was tense due to the Kashmir issue and Indian threats.

“All demands of Fazlur Rehman have already been presented before the United Nations by Prime Minister Imran Khan in his speech,” he added.

Shehbaz should not play double game. Opp leaders trying to protect their relatives

The federal minister said that Fazlur Rehman earlier defamed the opposition and their politics as it was the worst situation of the history in politics that stance of big politicians were different.

He said that Fazl wanted to use Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) but now he himself was being used.

“I want to give a message to religious forces that Fazl is going to lead a clash on politics and religious issues,” the minister added.

Sh Rashid alleged that Maulana Mufti Mehmood, father of Maulan Fazlur Rehman, had run a movement in the name of Islam and now the son was spreading rumours in society, adding that he (Fazl) would have to face the consequences.

The minister said that circumstances in Indian-occupied Kashmir were not normal and Kashmiris would continue their struggle for freedom from India, but the measures by Fazl could create disappointment among Kashmiris.

The minister appreciated Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over his responsible statement and advised PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif to choose the one side. He said that times of old politics had changed now.

He claimed that the movement of Fazlur Rehman would be shattered if Imran just announced release of six people. “Prime Minister and Pak Army are on the same page for national economic progress, national solidarity and stability,” he added.

The minister said opposition thought that there could be any way out by pushing Fazlur Rehman on the front line, but he added, it would never happen.

To a question, he suggested that Shehbaz should not become ‘Double Shah’ and play double game as situation in the country was not in his favour and the country was unable to bear instability.

The minister said the opposition leaders were striving to protect their father, brother and auntie (Phupho). He said the prime minister was taking bold steps for placing economy on the right path. He said credit goes to Prime Minister Imran Khan that the world had trust in him and it believed that he was an honest politician.

To another question, he said he did not involve in the provincial politics. He said that movement of Fazlur Rehman was nothing more than a tactic to blackmail the government.

The minister congratulated Imran on his birthday and said the prime minister was going to China on an important visit during which the Main Line-1 project would be finalised.

“Imran will also start negotiations for ML-2 project as well while an international standard train would be built according to standard gauge under the ML-2 project,” he added.

Sh Rashid said that ML-2 would connect Gawadar with the Central Asian states and Kabul.

Sh Rashid inquires after health of Ch Shujaat Hussain

Sheikh Rashid Ahmad visited residence of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to inquire after his health on Saturday.

He prayed for quick recovery of the politician.

He also met Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi and Federal Minister for Housing and Works Tariq Bashir Cheema and discussed the current political situation with them.