Fazlur Rehman K-P governor’s rule remarks target minerals motive
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday rejected the government’s justification for imposing governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), alleging that the measures were aimed at gaining control of the province’s mineral resources rather than addressing terrorism.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the party’s central shura in Islamabad, Fazl called for an in-camera session of parliament to brief lawmakers on the security situation and discuss the government’s actions.
He announced that no JUI-F member would join the interim council being formed in K-P, arguing that political power should change hands through constitutional means rather than the use of force “at the behest of powerful quarters”.
Why Fazl says the minerals explain the move
Fazl questioned the results of repeated military operations against terrorism and said the federal government’s justification for governor’s rule in K-P was baseless.
He pointed out that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had merged the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with K-P but was now placing the former tribal areas under federal control. In his view, the developments were driven by an interest in controlling the province’s mineral wealth.
That allegation lands against an active debate over K-P’s resources. The K-P governor has invited foreign firms to extract minerals in joint ventures, a move that has already drawn political scrutiny as the emergency continues.
Fazl questioned the constitutional basis for the measures, arguing that governments should be installed or removed in accordance with the Constitution rather than through coercion.
He also accused President Asif Ali Zardari of failing to fulfil his constitutional obligations by signing the relevant measure without being satisfied that the requirements had been met.
In-camera session demand and the party’s next steps
The JUI-F chief said his party believed in political dialogue and that grievances over government policies should be addressed through discussion rather than allegations and accusations. He urged the government to convene an in-camera parliamentary session to hear the concerns of political parties and deliberate on the way forward.
He said no single power could claim to represent the interests of the entire nation and urged policymakers to formulate a strategy keeping future challenges in view, observing that Asia was once again emerging as a global economic hub.
Announcing the party’s future plans, Fazl said a jirga of tribal representatives from the former Fata would be convened, while a student convention would be organised in Islamabad. The party would also hold a public gathering in Sargodha on November 26.
He said the central shura had called for fresh elections, adding that the JUI-F did not accept the results of the 2018 and 2024 general elections. He stressed that his party was not seeking a certificate of patriotism from anyone and that its members had taken an oath in parliament and remained committed to honouring it.
Broader reaction to the K-P emergency
Fazl’s remarks add to a widening political backlash over the K-P emergency. The Peshawar High Court has issued notices on petitions against the governor’s rule, while Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has suggested a ban on PTI may no longer be needed after the move. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said the rule could end if the opposition backs the terror fight, and Sharjeel Memon has commented on the PPP’s position on the dialogue around it.
Regarding the fight against terrorism, Fazl said his party had also suffered heavily, with more than 150 people killed in terrorist violence, and that the JUI-F had rejected the politics of the gun.
He said his party had called for extensive consultation before the merger of Fata with K-P, but the decision had been imposed wholesale on the people of the former tribal areas. He noted that the emergency had now also been imposed in those districts.
Source: The Express Tribune
FAQs
What did Fazlur Rehman say about K-P governor’s rule?
He rejected the government’s justification, alleged the measures aim to control K-P’s mineral resources, and said no JUI-F member would join the interim council being formed in the province.
What is Fazl demanding instead?
An in-camera session of parliament to brief lawmakers on the security situation, dialogue instead of coercion, and fresh elections. His party also plans a tribal jirga, a student convention in Islamabad and a Sargodha public gathering on November 26.
Has the governor’s rule been challenged in court?
Yes. The Peshawar High Court has issued notices on petitions against the K-P governor’s rule and adjourned the hearing to November 10.
