Fazl provides grist to rumour mill over K-P govt fate

Backs 'change in K-P' but not via 'boots'; Moots idea of ruling party taking lead role

PESHAWAR:

Amid swirling rumours of a brewing "regime change" in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday threw his weight behind the idea of political change in the PTI-led province, but with a caveat that the change must come from within the ruling party itself.

Dismissing the notion of backdoor manoeuvring, the Maulana asserted that the legitimacy cannot be handed down by "boots" but must stem from the will of the people.

He further lambasted both the federal and provincial governments as having "sold out". "We do not want a government handed to us by the boots, we want one backed by the people."

Addressing a news conference in Peshawar, the JUI-F chief said the law-and-order situation across the country was rapidly deteriorating.

"Fresh news is always about some kind of unrest," he said, citing the recent killing of an ANP politician, Maulana Khan Zeb, in Bajaur, worsening instability in Balochistan and unrest in Sindh. "We know for a fact that the ruling elite is paying extortion money to extremist groups," he claimed.

The JUI-F chief said that political change in K-P was essential, whether it comes from within the ruling PTI or through external political realignment. "My preference is change in the province. If it comes from within the ruling party, that's fine too," he added.

Referring to incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan, he said, "If his children come to Pakistan, I have no objection," adding that politics involves differences, not enmity.

"We may disagree with the PML-N, PPP or PTI, but we always keep the door open for dialogue, even the PTI people come and talk to me," he said.

The Maulana further claimed the province enjoyed full peace during his government's tenure. "You could travel anywhere without incident. There were no police checkpoints. No terrorism. Peace prevailed," he recalled.

He also called for an all-parties conference to discuss law and order.

Regarding the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) merger with K-P, he said it was a "wrong decision" taken under pressure and signals, and all political parties must now admit it. "Everyone joined the bandwagon, thinking the FATA merger was a good idea. We kept saying it wasn't. Now, reversing that mistake is in the national interest," he advised.

He expressed frustration that, even after eight years, FATA still lacked basic administration. "No patwari can go there even today. We were told land records are being compiled in FATA — when I asked how, I was told it's being done using satellites."

The JUI-F leader pointed out that a grand tribal jirga was going to be held on Sunday, saying his party respected such forums. "We had always wanted decisions about FATA's political future to be taken with input from its tribal elders, not through unilateral decisions."

He said his party had been recognised as a stakeholder in the government's committee on FATA, and that it had been asked to nominate representatives. "But how many members on the committee are actually from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or even Pashtun?" he questioned. "The province's money is only being used to appoint parliamentary secretaries and for luxuries. This is an extortion-backed, rigged government."

When asked about jailed politicians, he said that no politician should be behind bars, "but yes, politicians do go to jail. However, political movements are not just about getting released, they are waged for great causes".