NOWSHERA: Decisions should not be imposed on the people of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, like the Frontier Crimes Regulations was thrust upon them, said Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He was speaking at the centenary celebration of JUI on Sunday.
“If decisions are forced upon the tribespeople from Islamabad then what will be the difference between us and the colonisers,” he said, referring to the leaders of the tribespeople who reside in the federal capital. “Whatever is planned should happen with the consent of the people of FATA.”
He added peaceful negotiations should be held to resolve matters.
“We want to see Pakistan [prosper] as a free country,” he added. “This is the reason why we welcome the friendship with China for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.”
He added they were ready to work together with countries that have the resources Pakistan does not.
“It is slavery that we deny,” he maintained. “We want to bring Pakistan out of [the menace of] slavery.”
The centenary celebration of JUI started April 7, Friday in Azakhel, Nowshera.
A large number of people have come from across the globe to attend the celebrations.
Imam-e-Kaaba (from the grand mosque of Makkah) Shaikh Saleh bin Muhammad Ibrahim and Religious Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia, Saleh bin Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh attended the centennial celebration on the invitation of the JUI-F chief and other leaders.
Shaikh Saleh bin Muhammad Ibrahim delivered the Friday sermon and led the prayers at Azhakhel.