Fazlur Rehman Demands Fresh Elections, Rejects Governor’s Rule in KP

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has rejected the results of the 2024 general elections and demanded immediate, free and transparent fresh elections across the country, while terming the government’s justification for imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) baseless.

Addressing a press conference, the JUI-F chief said his party rejected both governor’s rule and the imposition of an emergency in KP, warning that such measures would cause significant political damage to the country.

Rejecting reports suggesting that he had sought the position of governor, Fazlur Rehman said the claim was completely false and insulting. “If I make a demand, it will not be for the governorship but for the office of prime minister,” he remarked.

He said JUI-F believed in political dialogue and urged the government to address political differences through democratic means rather than resorting to allegations and accusations.

Calls for in-camera parliamentary session

Fazlur Rehman demanded that the government convene an in-camera session of Parliament to brief political parties on the security situation and its proposed measures for KP.

“If there are concerns or complaints against us or any other party, Parliament should be convened in-camera so that the matter can be discussed,” he said.

He added that the government’s policies appeared to be driven by ulterior motives and argued that imposing governor’s rule without sufficient justification would undermine the democratic process.

The JUI-F chief said the party’s central executive council had rejected both governor’s rule and the imposition of an emergency during its two-day meeting.

He also questioned the constitutional and legal basis of the president’s decision, alleging that the required constitutional considerations had not been properly followed.

Questions government’s security policy

Fazlur Rehman questioned the effectiveness of repeated military operations in KP, asking what tangible results had been achieved despite several operations in the province.

He also asked why the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in KP was being blamed for obstructing security operations.

The JUI-F chief said his party had no links with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or any other militant organisation. He added that JUI-F, its office-bearers, religious scholars and seminaries had also faced security threats.

“My life and my religious seminaries are no longer safe,” he said, highlighting the dangers faced by his party and religious circles.

He maintained that JUI-F had consistently raised its voice against terrorism among the public and religious communities and had itself made sacrifices in the fight against militancy.

Criticism over constitutional amendments

Fazlur Rehman criticised the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, alleging that provisions intended to weaken the system had been rejected by his party during the 26th Amendment process but were subsequently approved through the alleged purchase of lawmakers’ support for the 27th Amendment.

He said political power should be transferred or governments changed through constitutional procedures rather than the use of force.

Referring to past instances of governor’s rule under former president Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, he questioned whether similar measures had been accepted without controversy at the time.

He also expressed concern over what he described as the economic and political consequences of the government’s policies, saying the country’s economy remained weak and government measures had failed to bring meaningful relief to the public.

Raises concerns over provincial resources

The JUI-F chief alleged that the proposed governor’s rule in KP was linked to efforts to gain control over the province’s mineral resources.

He criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying that although the party had overseen the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with KP, the region’s affairs were now being handled at the federal level.

Fazlur Rehman also said JUI-F would not nominate any member to the proposed councils under the arrangements being discussed.

Calls for a new regional alliance

Commenting on international developments, Fazlur Rehman said the global political and economic order was changing and Pakistan needed to adapt to emerging realities.

He said China was increasingly becoming a centre of global finance and reiterated his party’s vision of an Islamic bloc capable of cooperating on political, economic and defence matters.

Describing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a weak platform, he called for a stronger political, economic and military alliance among Muslim countries.

He also condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, describing them as unjustified, and said Pakistan should respond proactively to changing international circumstances.

Fazlur Rehman recalled that his party had been among the first to condemn Indian aggression against Pakistan. He also welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States.

Concluding his remarks, the JUI-F chief reiterated that political disputes should be resolved through constitutional channels and meaningful dialogue, warning that governor’s rule and emergency measures in KP could deepen political divisions rather than resolve the province’s problems.