PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday said that any political change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) must come from within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, he said: “I have made my suggestion — there should be a change in the province.”
He added that JUI-F would decide its role after internal party consultations. He warned that the province could not handle more political instability.
Commenting on the Senate, Fazl said it was too early to discuss any adjustments.
Following the Supreme Court’s June 27 verdict disqualifying PTI from claiming reserved seats, the opposition in KP is now only 20 members short of a simple majority.
A meeting between KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on July 2 sparked speculation about the removal of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
However, PML-N leaders Khawaja Asif and Rana Sanaullah rejected any no-confidence move. KP Governor Kundi also denied plotting against Gandapur but said the opposition had the democratic right to act once it gained a majority.
“There is no conspiracy,” he told Geo News. “But if we gain one more seat, we may consider a no-confidence motion.”
On political ties, Fazl said JUI-F had differences with PPP, PML-N, and ANP but no hostility. “There is no enmity with PTI either,” he added. He acknowledged past tensions between the two parties but said the chapter had closed.
On law and order, he said he was open to talks if the opposition reached out.
FATA Merger ‘a Mistake’
Fazl called the merger of FATA with KP a mistake. He said the focus should have been the political rights of the tribal people, not the merger itself.
“All parties must admit that the merger was wrong,” he said.
He noted that JUI-F had opposed the merger and had consulted tribal elders at the time. “The tribes should have been allowed to decide,” he added.
He announced that a grand jirga of tribal elders would meet tomorrow. JUI-F, he said, would seek further consultation from them.
Fazl questioned the makeup of the committee on FATA. “How many Pakhtuns are in this committee? How many are from KP?” he asked. He said the committee had asked JUI-F to nominate a representative and recognised the party as a stakeholder.
He also criticized the misuse of provincial funds. “Funds exist only for personal perks,” he remarked.
Expressing concern for children, he said: “Whenever a child suffers in KP or Balochistan, I feel the pain as my own.”
Fazl also pointed out governance failures. “Even after eight years, not a single patwari has been posted to FATA,” he said.
