JUI-F chief criticises FATA merger, calls for consultation with tribal elders
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has proposed a political change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), but clarified that any such shift must originate from within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) itself.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on Friday, Fazl said, “My suggestion has been made there should be a change in the province.” He, however, maintained that JUI-F would take any political decision regarding KP only after internal consultation, stressing that the province could not afford further instability.
Fazl’s remarks come amid speculation that the opposition alliance is nearing a simple majority in the KP Assembly following the Supreme Court’s June 27 ruling that PTI is ineligible for reserved seats. While meetings between KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have added fuel to rumours about replacing KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, senior PML-N leaders have publicly denied any such plan.
Governor Kundi, however, left the door open, stating, “We are not plotting against the CM, but the day we have one more member, it will be our democratic right to move a no-confidence motion.”
Addressing wider political relations, Fazl clarified that while JUI-F had differences with PPP, PML-N, and ANP, there was no hostility. He also downplayed tensions with PTI, saying, “There is no enmity — only a bitter past chapter.”
FATA Merger a ‘Mistake’
The JUI-F chief reiterated his longstanding opposition to the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with KP, calling it a “mistake” and insisting that the political future of tribal residents should have been determined through consultation.
“All parties must accept that the FATA merger was a wrong decision. The tribes must be given the right to decide,” he said.
He announced that a grand jirga of tribal elders would be held tomorrow to discuss the issue further and reaffirmed JUI-F’s commitment to tribal consultation.
Fazl also criticised the composition of the current committee on FATA affairs, questioning the lack of Pakhtun representation. “How many members of this committee are Pakhtun or from the province?” he asked, revealing that the committee had approached JUI-F to suggest a representative name, acknowledging its stake in the issue.
Misuse of Provincial Funds, Law & Order Concerns
Turning to governance, Fazl lamented the misuse of KP’s funds, alleging that the budget was only being used for “perks and privileges.” He expressed deep concern for the suffering of children in KP and Balochistan, stating, “Whenever a child suffers in these provinces, I consider them my own.”
He also highlighted persistent administrative failures in the former FATA region, noting that “even after eight years, no patwari (land official) has been able to operate there.”
On matters of law and order, Fazl signaled willingness to cooperate if approached by the opposition, saying that he would be open to dialogue for the sake of peace and stability.
With a growing power vacuum and shifting alliances in KP, Fazlur Rehman’s statements reflect both strategic positioning and renewed efforts to assert JUI-F’s relevance in provincial politics particularly on sensitive issues like the FATA merger and governance of tribal areas.
