Closing doors of dialogue to damage democracy: Sh Rashid.

LAHORE -- Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Saturday that closing doors of dialogue with the government by the JUI-F could damage democracy.

Speaking at a press conference at the Railways Headquarters here, he said that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not yet announced any sit-in; however, he could not become a prime minister in any case.

He said that more than 600 politicians would face consequences in case democracy was derailed due to the Mualana's protest.

He said that Fazlur Rehman's protest would damage Kashmir issue also by diverting the attention of people from atrocities of Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir.

The minister said that the government was ready to provide face-saving to the Maulana and Prime Minister Imran Khan had made a committee for dialogue with the JUI-F.

Sh Rashid said that the nation had not forgotten when the Maulana offered his services to the US for becoming prime minister besides resolving the Afghanistan issue.

He alleged that Fazlur Rehman used Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed for his personal interests.

"I am not worried about Fazlur Rehman, I am worried about madrasas and the Ulema who are already a target of Western media," he said.

The minister said that madrassas were symbols of Islam but what was Fazl expressing through baton wielders who looked like terrorists.

He alleged that Fazlur Rehman had never visited the tomb of Hazrat Quaid-e-Azam (RA), but he considered it an honour for him when he visited Sikh's golden temple.

He said that all politicians of opposition could be settled down if today Imran announced an NRO, which he would never announce at any cost.

To a question, Sh Rashid said that time was an important factor in politics, adding that those institutions were worried about national solidarity as well as about the expected anarchy in the country.

"Whenever, Ulema ran any movement, martial law was imposed," he added.

He said that politicians should use their brains that the current situation was not suitable for any protest. "I am representative of religion, but the all Muslim countries are under pressure currently," he said.

He hoped that some other way...