Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Party Leader Links Election Defeat To Taliban Support

Following his defeat in the parliamentary elections, Fazal-ur-Rehman, the leader of Pakistan's Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party, said that his party lost the elections due to their support for the stability of Taliban government in Afghanistan.

He said that he will protest against the election results.

During a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, Fazal-ur-Rehman said that the defeat of his party was a result of fraud ordered by "international anti-Islamic powers".

He accused the United States and Israel of opposing his efforts to improve relations between the Taliban and Pakistan and preventing his victory.

Rehman said, "Our crime is that we played a role in the stability of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan and worked for peaceful relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam has supported the position of Hamas against Israel's state terrorism."

At the same time, in an interview with "Hum News" news channel, he also accused the Pakistan Army of interfering in the elections.

He declared his refusal to accept the election results, announcing a demonstration against the outcome in response to his party, Jamiat Ulama, securing only four seats in the elections.

Rehman, who was a candidate for the National Assembly from Dera Ismail Khan constituency, lost to Ali Amin Gandapur, an independent candidate affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

During his press conference, Rehman also said that bribes were taken from both successful and unsuccessful candidates during the February 8 elections.