Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday called for a change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s political leadership, but insisted that any such shift should come from within the ranks of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), not through external intervention.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Fazl stated, “My suggestion has been made, there should be a change in the province. But it should emerge from PTI itself.” He further clarified that JUI-F will make any decisions related to KP only after party-wide consultations, warning that the province cannot bear further political instability.
His comments come amid heightened political speculation following the Supreme Court’s June 27 ruling, which declared PTI ineligible for reserved seats. The verdict has significantly reduced PTI’s strength in the KP Assembly, bringing the opposition alliance just 20 seats short of a simple majority.
A recent meeting between KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on July 2 sparked rumours of a possible federal-led ouster of KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
While senior PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Rana Sanaullah have dismissed such a scenario, Governor Kundi did not completely rule it out, stating, “If we have even one more member in the assembly, it will be our democratic right to move a no-confidence motion.”
Fazl maintained that JUI-F holds political disagreements with parties like PPP, PML-N, and ANP, but not hostility. “There is no enmity between PTI and JUI either,” he remarked, acknowledging a turbulent history but hinting at a willingness to engage.
On the law and order front, he expressed openness to dialogue, saying he was ready to sit down for talks if the opposition sought his involvement.
Addressing the controversial merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with KP, Fazl reiterated his long-standing opposition. “The merger was a mistake. The real issue is not the merger itself, but the political future of the tribal people,” he argued. He emphasized that all political parties must accept this error and underscored the importance of consultation with tribal elders.
He announced that a grand jirga of tribal leaders would reconvene tomorrow to further discuss the matter, adding, “JUI-F had rejected the merger proposal from the beginning—we believe the tribes must decide their own fate.”
Fazl also questioned the composition of the federal committee on FATA-related issues, asking, “How many Pakhtuns are part of this committee? How many are from the province?” He confirmed that the committee had recognized JUI-F as a stakeholder and requested the party to nominate a representative.
Turning to governance issues, the JUI-F chief criticized the misuse of provincial funds. “Our province’s money is only being used for perks and privileges,” he said. He highlighted the ongoing administrative vacuum in tribal areas, noting that even after eight years of the merger, no patwari (land revenue official) has been deployed in the region.
Fazl concluded by expressing solidarity with the oppressed, particularly children in KP and Balochistan. “Whenever a child suffers in these provinces, I consider them my own,” he said emotionally.
