Fazlur Rehman criticises Islamabad container deployment, warns of rising unrest

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticised the government’s decision to deploy containers across Islamabad following announcements by some political parties to hold protests, saying such measures could fuel further unrest.

Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Fazlur Rehman said the country was facing mounting debt and inflation, while the government had failed to adequately address the difficulties faced by the public.

“Some parties have announced protests, after which Islamabad has been filled with containers. You are creating rebels yourselves through such attitudes,” he said.

Fazlur Rehman also criticised the government’s policies, saying uncertainty was growing among the public. He claimed that major development projects had been suspended and that some investors were transferring their capital abroad.

He also alleged that Pakistan had lost China’s confidence, while state institutions were increasingly adopting a defensive posture.

The JUI-F chief said the country was facing serious challenges and warned that unresolved issues should be brought before parliament. He questioned the silence of government lawmakers on matters affecting the country.

On regional developments, Fazlur Rehman called for an in-camera session of parliament to discuss the situation surrounding the US-Iran conflict and its reported ceasefire. Referring to the security situation involving Saudi Arabia, he said parliament should be fully briefed, arguing that a closed-door meeting of parliamentary leaders alone would not be sufficient.

Fazlur Rehman also called for the implementation of the joint defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and said countries including Egypt and Iran should have been part of a broader Islamic defence arrangement.

He claimed that global powers had undermined efforts to establish such an alliance.

He further said the public had not been adequately informed about recent diplomatic developments, including Pakistan’s support for mediation between Iran and the United States, and called for greater clarity on the outcome and implications of those efforts.