JUI-F Campaign Against Fazl Sparks Protests

The JUI-F campaign against Fazl drew street protests across Sindh and Balochistan on Friday, as the party denounced what it called a coordinated character assassination drive against its chief. Demonstrations were held in district headquarters across Balochistan and in parts of Sindh, with workers, scholars and political figures taking part.

In Balochistan, protests took place in Quetta, Khuzdar, Awaran, Musakhel, Harnai, Lasbela, Qila Saifullah, Ziarat, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Chaman, Pishin, Kalat, Mastung and Kohlu. Speakers praised the Maulana’s defence of the Constitution, democracy and parliamentary supremacy. They said the alleged drone filming of his home, and the circulation of the footage on social media, was unacceptable in any civilised society.

Drone filming and notices at the centre of the row

The party’s central complaint is the alleged drone filming of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s home. Speakers said privacy and the sanctity of a home were basic rights, and prying into private life broke moral, legal and constitutional principles. They demanded an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation, with those behind the filming identified and dealt with under the law.

A JUI-F meeting in Sindh raised wider grievances. It pointed to the alleged drone filming of the home of the party’s Sindh general secretary, Maulana Rashid Mehmood Soomro, and cited NAB and FIA notices to Mufti Asad Mahmood, Kamran Murtaza and other leaders, along with the sealing of shops in various cities.

The meeting called these steps acts of government panic and political vendetta. In its view, the party faces vindictive action for speaking out against the “Form 47 government”, for defending provincial unity and the NFC Award, for opposing changes to the 18th Amendment, and for resisting what it called conspiracies to seize the provinces’ mineral resources. The party said it would not be intimidated, and announced highway protests under a policy of non-violence.

Fazl calls for transparency in mineral deals

Maulana Fazlur Rehman used a Jamiat Talaba Islam gathering in Islamabad to press his case on foreign investment. He called for transparency in agreements with foreign investors, above all on mineral resources, and said the country’s natural wealth should not be given away through secret arrangements.

“We are not against anyone’s investment, but there must be transparency in the process and agreements. The nation should be informed about the conditions under which contracts are signed,” he said. He added that his party was not opposed to investment from China, the United States or multinational firms, but every agreement should be public, with clear profit shares for Pakistan, the investor and local communities.

He also alleged that the government used security measures in tribal districts to ease illegal trade routes. Referring to recurring curfews in the tribal belt, he asked why restrictions applied for two days a week while the other five days were apparently treated as free of terrorism.

Kundi’s reply to the JUI-F campaign against Fazl

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi answered the party’s complaints in Peshawar on Friday. He said the JUI-F chief’s children enjoyed luxury trips to Turkiye, Europe and the United States, while the children of others were sent to Afghanistan. “I respect the JUI-F chief but believe the current situation is the result of the actions of his brothers and sons,” he told reporters.

Mr Kundi added that Fazlur Rehman and his family had themselves said they could not leave their homes after evening, and that the JUI-F chief had been attacked while his brother had been intercepted by terrorists. He said there was zero tolerance for facilitators of terrorists, and that the Centre had announced a Rs160 billion package for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after his meeting with the prime minister.

The pressure on the party is not new

The row comes in a week when the party has faced action on more than one front. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan sent show-cause notices to three Hajj operators allegedly linked to Mufti Abrar, a close ally of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, over alleged failures in beneficial ownership records. The operators were given 14 days to reply.

The party has also lost ground in the courts. The Federal Constitutional Court rejected a JUI-F appeal over a reserved seat on November 5. And the political temperature is high across the board: PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged the government to stop “fighting everyone” and engage all political forces, while an electoral reforms panel brings the main parties together to address rigging complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What is the JUI-F protesting about?

The party says a coordinated campaign targets its chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, through alleged drone filming of his home, character assassination on social media, NAB and FIA notices to its leaders, and the sealing of shops.

What does the JUI-F allege about drone filming?

It alleges that a drone filmed Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s private residence and that the footage was circulated on social media. It wants an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation into who was behind it.

What did Fazl say about foreign investment?

He said his party is not opposed to investment from China, the United States or multinational firms, but all agreements, above all those on mineral resources, must be public, with clear profit shares for Pakistan, investors and local communities.

What is the party planning next?

It has announced protests on highways and major roads under a policy of non-violence, on the directive of the party chief.