Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman was conferred an honorary doctorate by Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), at a ceremony held at the Governor House on Monday, hosted by Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori.
Presiding over the event, Governor Tessori praised Pakistan’s religious community for what he described as its unwavering commitment to principles. Speaking to the media, he said global powers view Pakistan’s religious groups as a “symbol of strength” and expressed concern over what he termed the presence of “India-backed elements in Afghanistan.”
In his address, Maulana Fazlur Rehman raised several political and constitutional issues, delivering a pointed critique of the state’s policies. He lamented Pakistan’s handling of Afghan refugees, remarking that decades of hospitality had been squandered. The JUI-F chief also rejected the credibility of the 2018 and 2024 general elections, labeling them “rigged” and calling for fresh polls to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Touching on constitutional affairs, Fazlur Rehman urged political stakeholders not to politicize or create controversy around the 26th Amendment, which defines the allocation of National Assembly seats for the former tribal regions. He stressed the need for constitutional unity and restraint in addressing sensitive national issues.
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The ceremony underscored the continued role of religious-political leadership in shaping national debate, with JUI-F reiterating its demands for electoral transparency and constitutional stability amid Pakistan’s evolving political landscape.
