DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday said the recent constitutional amendment had strengthened parliament and democracy in the country.

Addressing a party event at the Jamia Maarif al-Sharia seminary here, the JUI-F leader complained that people were called traitors for advocating for rights and resources.

He said the people of provinces had the constitutional right to their own resources but when they spoke about them, they`re called traitors.

`We will not allow those rights to be usurped,` he said.

Mr Fazl insisted that there was no `systematic approach` to fight terrorism and establish peace and even, the US and China were manipulated in thename of terrorism and resources were appropriated under that pretext. He said under the Constitution, Pakistan was an Islamic republic and not a secular state.

The JUI-F chief said the government in the country won`t be established against the will of the people, while democracy should align with the teachings ofQuranandSunnah.

He complained about the authorities` failure to follow the recommendations of the Islamic Council of Ideology.

Mr Fazl, however, said the government was bound by the 26thConstitutionalAmendment to lay the CCI`s recommendations before parliament and enforce them.

He complained that armed groups freely roamed in parts of KP, instilling fear among residents. The JUI-F chief said efforts were under way to sow discord among provinces to weaken the state.

He said he showed solidarity with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in national interest.

Mr Fazl complained aboutgenocide in Palestine and urged Islamic countries to take `decisive action` to check it.

DETENTIONOFPOLITICAL PRISONERS: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday opposed the detention of all politicians, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Fazl said snap elections were required to prevent the currentpolitical situation in the country from worsening.

He said that the military establishment would have to be separated from the electoral process so that its political maneuvering to form the governments of its own choice could stop.

The JUI-F leader said the original draft 26th Constitutional Amendment had 56 clauses but he got them reduced to 22.He claimed that had he not spoken to the government about the 26th Constitutional Amendment, it would have `bought 11 votes` to get the bill passed by parliament. Mr Fazl said the PTI was happy with the way he handled the matter.

`We saved the country from a political crisis and strengthened parliament,` he said.

The JUI-F leader said the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces was poor and therefore, he was constantly raising alarm about it.

FIRE DESTROYS TREES: A large fire broke out in the chilgoza and olive forests in Koh-i-Sulaiman Range of Darazinda tehsil here, destroying many trees.

An official of Rescue 1122 said a 16-member team of firefighters from all local rescue stations, including Station-55 Darazinda, was busy extinguishing the fire with necessary equipment. Residents complained that millions of rupees worth of forests were burnt by fires every year.