DERA ISMAIL KHAN, 18 MAY (DNA) – Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, the chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), attacked his rival Imran Khan, reiterating stance that he would continue to support Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the face of Panama Papers scandal.

“I assure mister prime minister that masses standby you. People of Dera Ismail Khan are with you since we support peace, stability and strengthening of democracy, we will not let any conspiracy succeed against this democratic system,” said the JUI-F chief.

He was addressing a large public meeting organized of his party on the occasion of groundbreaking of 285-kilometre motorway from Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla area. The JUI-F leader, while welcoming government’s mega projects for the region, vowed to back the PM, who is under opposition’s pressure to clear his position over Panama Papers leaks.

He urged opposition not to violate their ‘limits’ in government’s criticism. “The prime minister accepted opposition’s all demands time and again, including formation of parliamentary committee, writing of letter to chief justice of Pakistan CJP and formulating TORs, but the opposition fled,” he said.

“It demonstrates that you, and not the PM, have been proved a thief. The cat has come out of bag. Their immature and childish politics must to be promoted… They are unnecessary elements who are bent upon occupying political system,” the JUI-F chief said.

Pledging to make DI Khan a junction of international trade route, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman thanked the PM for development projects he announced for ‘oppressed’ people in one of country’s backward areas. The PM also addressed the rally. He criticized his opponents and promised to make ‘new Pakistan’ with the backing of JUI-F.

The PM announced mega uplift projects for the DI Khan district, including an agriculture university and Rs.770 million gas projects. Earlier, he performed groundbreaking of 285-kilometre motorway from Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla area.

The project is part of western route of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and will be completed at a cost of over Rs.129 billion in two years. The project includes construction of several bridges and interchanges. It will bring enormous economic benefits to the less developed parts of the country. DNA