slug: “fazl-kp-emergency-remarks-ministers-response”
category: “National News”
headline: “Fazl Says Criticism Not Aimed at Institutions as Ministers Hit Back Over KP Emergency Remarks”
seo_title: “Fazl KP Emergency Remarks Spark Ministers’ Rebuttal”
meta_description: “Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his criticism targets government policies, not institutions, as ministers accused him of politicising KP’s emergency.”
focus_keyphrase: “Fazl KP emergency remarks”
image_url: “hourly-1132-fazl-kp-emergency-remarks-ministers-response.webp”
image_credit: “Image: Tribune”
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Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said his criticism of the government was directed at its policies and not at state institutions, hours after federal ministers accused him of politicising the emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
Speaking at a news conference in Lahore, Fazl called the federal government “powerless” and demanded an in-camera session of parliament to examine why terrorism persists in the country. The Fazl KP emergency remarks drew a sharp response from Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, who insisted the K-P measures target terrorism alone.
Fazl termed the ministers’ allegations “character assassination”, saying political leaders should be taken into confidence on security decisions.
“Our only question is why the country has failed to eliminate terrorism. Let us sit together and find out why. Parliament is the most appropriate forum to discuss the issue and make decisions,” he said.
What Fazl said
Addressing reporters, Fazl said his party had paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism, with around 250 religious scholars and workers losing their lives.
He questioned where key security decisions were being made, alleging that parliament was expected to endorse decisions taken elsewhere. “If Parliament is supreme, why are decisions taken in Rawalpindi while Parliament is simply told to follow them?” he remarked.
He urged parliament to assess the security situation and determine why efforts against militancy were not producing the desired results.
“We have no desire to start a debate in the country. The sacrifices should not be made controversial,” he said.
Fazl also questioned the government’s decision to negotiate with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had been in power in K-P, while accusing the party of supporting terrorists. He said the government had decided to join an international alliance against terrorism and urged it to accept his proposal for an in-camera parliamentary session.
Ministers hit back over Fazl KP emergency remarks
Federal ministers intensified their criticism of the JUI-F chief over his opposition to the emergency and governor’s rule in K-P, insisting the move was aimed at addressing terrorism rather than pursuing political interests.
In a statement posted on X, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry lambasted Fazl for linking the imposition of emergency in K-P to an alleged attempt to take control of the province’s mineral resources. He said it was regrettable to politicise a serious national issue such as terrorism through allegations, and urged the JUI-F chief to play a constructive role in efforts to eliminate the menace.
Chaudhry said the federal government’s priority was to protect the public and restore peace in K-P, adding that Pakistan’s armed forces were sacrificing lives to secure peace. He also called on PTI, which he said had governed K-P for 13 years, to answer questions about its performance and the deteriorating law and order situation.
Speaking to the media in Jaranwala, Talal Chaudhry said the decision was an administrative measure taken after considering other options, with the sole objective of combating terrorism. He rejected the suggestion that the federal government intended to remove the PTI government to strengthen the PML-N’s presence in the province.
Talal expressed disappointment over Fazl’s criticism, saying the government had not expected the JUI-F chief to seek a share in K-P’s political arrangements. He also questioned Fazl’s references to the 2024 general elections and the 1971 separation of East Pakistan, noting that the JUI-F had lost the K-P election to the PTI. He offered to work with all stakeholders to implement the National Action Plan.
The wider KP emergency debate
The exchange is the latest chapter in a heated national debate over the federal government’s decision to impose emergency and governor’s rule in K-P earlier this month. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif have both defended the move, calling it a necessary response to the province’s worsening security situation. Fazl has previously weighed in on Balochistan’s security politics, while K-P itself has seen a string of militant attacks and cross-border firing in recent weeks.
Fazl’s intervention adds a significant religious-political voice to the controversy, echoing opposition calls for greater transparency in security policymaking.
What did Fazl say about his criticism of the government?
Fazl said his criticism was directed at government policies rather than state institutions, and was intended to bring about corrective action on terrorism and governance.
Why did federal ministers criticise Fazl?
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Talal Chaudhry accused Fazl of politicising the K-P emergency by linking it to mineral resources and a power grab, insisting the move targets terrorism alone.
What is the JUI-F chief demanding?
Fazl has demanded an in-camera session of parliament to examine why terrorism persists in the country and to build a consensus-based counterterrorism strategy.
