JUI-F Calls Nationwide Protests Over Killing of Maulana Idrees
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has announced a nationwide protest campaign for Wednesday and Friday, following the targeted killing of party leader Maulana Idrees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Party leadership confirmed the demonstrations will take place across major cities, with central rallies expected in Islamabad and Peshawar. The move is a direct challenge to the provincial government, which the JUI-F blames for failing to curb the rising tide of violence in the region.
Maulana Idrees was gunned down earlier this week by unidentified assailants. The attack, which occurred in broad daylight, has reignited fears of a resurgence in targeted violence against religious and political figures in the province.
“We won’t be silenced by bullets,” JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri said. He told reporters that the party’s provincial leadership is meeting to finalize the protest routes, warning that the demonstrations will continue until the perpetrators are identified and arrested.
For the JUI-F, this isn’t just about one assassination. It’s a tipping point. The party has repeatedly voiced concerns over the security apparatus in KP, arguing that the provincial administration has lost control over the law-and-order situation. The protests serve as a blunt signal to the federal government that the party’s patience regarding the security vacuum is wearing thin.
The security situation remains volatile. Authorities have placed police on high alert in anticipation of the protests, fearing that tensions between party workers and security forces could spiral.
Whether these protests force a change in security policy or simply deepen the political divide in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the core question. For now, the JUI-F is betting that a show of strength in the streets is their only remaining leverage.
