Islamabad (Pakistan News): Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said the government’s narrative for imposing governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is baseless, claiming that the real objective is to gain control over the province’s mineral resources. He demanded an in-camera session of Parliament to discuss the current situation and allow a detailed discussion of all related matters.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of his party’s central Shura, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party believed in political dialogue. He said concerns over government policies should be addressed politically rather than through accusations. If he or any other party had grievances, he said, they should be discussed during a closed-door parliamentary session.
He said the use of force was currently taking place at the behest of powerful forces. A change in government, he added, should take place in accordance with the Constitution, not through force. He said JUI-F rejected governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that no member of his party would join the interim council being established in the province.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned the results of numerous military operations conducted in the past. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government had merged the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but there was now talk of transferring the same region back to federal control. According to him, these measures appeared to be aimed at gaining control over the province’s mineral resources.
He also criticised the President, saying constitutional requirements had not been fulfilled and the relevant documents had been signed without adequate consideration. He noted that governor’s rule had also been imposed during the tenures of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari, but questions had continued to be raised about the justification for such measures.
Calls for an Effective Alliance of the Islamic World
The JUI-F chief said no single power could represent the interests of the entire nation. He said Asia was once again emerging as a major centre of the global economy, making it necessary to develop strategies in line with future challenges.
Calling for the formation of an effective bloc of Islamic countries, he said the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should play a more effective role. According to him, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could undermine efforts to promote unity among Muslim countries.
Concerns Over Terrorism and the Merger of Former FATA
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party had also suffered the loss of more than 150 people because of terrorism, but opposed the politics of the gun. Describing the system introduced during Pervez Musharraf’s rule as a failure, he said that after the police had been separated from the administration, there was now talk of restoring the same system.
He said JUI-F had called for extensive consultation before the merger of former FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but the decision had been imposed on the people of the area. He noted that the emergency had also been imposed in those districts where meetings with tribal elders had reportedly revealed that the merger process had failed.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said he had maintained respectful relations with Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari in the past and continued to do so. He said he had no objection to investment, but questioned why only the United States was showing interest in former FATA. Such matters, he added, should be brought before the nation.
Announcement of FATA Jirga, Student Convention and Public Gathering
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party would convene a FATA jirga and hold a student convention in Islamabad. A public gathering would also be organised in Sargodha on November 26.
He said the Shura had called for fresh elections. JUI-F does not accept the election results of 2018 and 2024, he added. He said his party did not seek certificates of patriotism from anyone and respected the oath taken in Parliament.