ISLAMABAD (The COW News Digital) Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected the government’s justification for imposing Governor’s Rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that the measures are aimed at gaining control over the province’s mineral resources.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of his party’s central Shura, Fazlur Rehman called for an in-camera session of Parliament to brief lawmakers on the situation and address concerns surrounding the constitutional and political developments in the province.
He alleged that the government’s explanation for imposing Governor’s Rule was baseless and maintained that political power should be exercised in accordance with the Constitution rather than through force.
“The use of force is taking place at the direction of powerful quarters,” he said, according to the reported remarks. He urged the authorities to bring their concerns before Parliament instead of relying on allegations and political accusations.
Fazlur Rehman also announced that JUI-F would not participate in the proposed interim council being formed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the party’s central Shura had decided against nominating any of its members to the proposed body.
The JUI-F chief criticised President Asif Ali Zardari, alleging that constitutional requirements had not been fulfilled before the emergency-related decision was approved. He argued that the process of forming or removing governments should follow constitutional procedures.
He said his party believed in political dialogue and maintained that disagreements between political parties and state institutions should be addressed through discussion. He called for an in-camera parliamentary meeting where officials could explain the circumstances behind the measures taken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Fazlur Rehman also questioned the effectiveness of past security operations, asking what results had been achieved despite repeated campaigns against militancy.
Discussing the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said his party had previously called for extensive consultation with local communities before the merger was implemented.
He claimed that the decision had been imposed without sufficient agreement from the people concerned. According to him, meetings with tribal elders had raised questions about whether the merger process had achieved its intended objectives.
Fazlur Rehman said his party planned to convene a tribal jirga and a students’ convention in Islamabad. He also announced a public gathering in Sargodha on November 26.
On the national political situation, the JUI-F chief said the party’s Shura had called for fresh elections. He said JUI-F did not accept the results of the 2018 and 2024 general elections, reiterating the party’s objections to the electoral process.
Turning to regional affairs, Fazlur Rehman called for greater unity among Muslim-majority countries, arguing that the Islamic world needed a more effective collective platform. He also described attacks on Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi movement as an attempt to obstruct Muslim unity.
He said Pakistan had suffered significant human losses because of terrorism, adding that his party opposed the politics of armed force. He also questioned proposals to restore administrative arrangements that, in his view, had previously failed.
Fazlur Rehman maintained that his party’s criticism of government policies did not amount to personal hostility towards political leaders, saying JUI-F had maintained respectful relations with Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari.
His remarks add to the political debate surrounding emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province’s mineral resources, the former FATA merger and demands for fresh elections. The allegation that Governor’s Rule is intended to secure control over mineral resources remains Fazlur Rehman’s stated position.
