Fazlur Rehman seeks Charter of Democracy over KP rule

Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman told the National Assembly on Wednesday that the federal government misused the Constitution when it imposed governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fazl said the transfer of power in the province had taken place by force rather than by public opinion. He called for a new Charter of Democracy to protect the country from unconstitutional actions and possible violence.

“The government has misused the Constitution. Here, just as the law is misused, the Constitution was misused,” he said in his speech.

The Centre imposed governor’s rule and an emergency in KP on October 11. It cited what it called the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism. The move drew criticism from opposition parties, including Fazl, who had tried to reduce tensions between the federal and provincial governments before the decision.

Fazl recounts his mediation effort

Fazl told the House that he had worked to defuse tensions during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) long march towards Islamabad. He said PTI leaders had asked him to play a role in resolving the matter.

After talks with senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PTI, he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who asked for the long march to be called off, he said.

Fazl said he then received a call from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the morning of October 11. Dar told him the cabinet was not agreeing to the proposal and that governor’s rule must be imposed in KP at all costs, according to Fazl.

“So I said that all the effort made since yesterday was being negated. I was hoping that you brought about a consensus, but the government negated it,” he said.

He said all his efforts had aimed at preventing bloodshed. He also blamed Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for failing to protect the sanctity of the Constitution and Parliament.

Fazl added that he had reservations about the KP government, but that was not a reason to change it in this way.

“I may have my reservations about the [KP] government, but this is not the way to enact change, by bringing about a revolution and upending everything. You must go to the people for that,” he said.

Government defends the measures

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry responded to Fazl in the House. He said governor’s rule in KP was in place for six months only, and the emergency applied to a few districts affected by terrorism.

“You have to be on one side, either remain with the state of Pakistan or be supportive of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Afghanistan,” the minister said.

He said the situation in Balochistan differed from that in KP. In KP, he alleged, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of the PTI was using provincial resources to march on Islamabad and had even defended terrorists.

Fazl rejected the suggestion that his patriotism was in doubt. He said his party had made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and that its martyrs and contributions were being ridiculed.

“My party is a party of martyrs. You do not see our martyrs, and our sacrifices are being mocked,” he told the House.

What the KP measures mean in practice

Governor’s rule in KP runs for six months, according to the government’s own response in the House. The emergency, by contrast, applies only in parts of the province.

Fazl said governor’s rule was in force in half of the province and the emergency in the other half. He was apparently referring to special emergency measures in 12 districts overseen by a council.

Fazl also raised the debate over mineral resources and said his party was mobilising its political strength against what he called government encroachments. He insisted the JUI-F had not violated any limits.

“If the government is prepared for a confrontation, we are also ready to confront it,” he said. He urged the government to avoid a policy of force and warned that his party was prepared to face the consequences.

When was governor’s rule imposed in KP?

How long will governor’s rule last?

What did Fazl propose instead?

• Dawn, “Fazl accuses govt of ‘misusing’ Constitution when imposing emergency, governor’s rule in KP” (28 October 2026): https://www.dawn.com/news/2040486/fazl-accuses-govt-of-misusing-constitution-when-imposing-emergency-governors-rule-in-kp
• Feature Pakistan, “KP governor’s rule to end in six months, says Tariq Fazal” (published): https://featurepakistan.com/kp-governors-rule-end-six-months-tariq-fazal-october-2026/
• Feature Pakistan, “Fazlur Rehman on Asif’s Iran remark” (published): https://featurepakistan.com/fazlur-rehman-asif-iran-remark-october-2026/
• Feature Pakistan, “Peshawar ATC issues arrest warrants for Sohail Afridi” (published): https://featurepakistan.com/peshawar-atc-arrest-warrants-sohail-afridi-october-2026/
• Feature Pakistan, “PTI parliamentary party talks and protest decision” (published): https://featurepakistan.com/pti-parliamentary-party-talks-protest-decision/