Peshawar:
Jamat Disadvanta-I-islam (F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday called for political change in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), suggesting that such a shift would be more appropriate if it came within the ranks of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI), which currently has a majority within the provincial assembly.
When he spoke at a press conference in Peshawar, the Jui-F leader said it was unimportant whether the change came out of internal dynamics or external pressure that matters, he insisted was that change was now tender.
“If PTI claims to have a majority, changes should come from within,” he noted. “It should not look like the opposition is constructing the removal of the provincial government.”
The Jui-F leader claimed that PTI’s mandate in the province was “artificial” and lacked real public support. He emphasized that any internal restructuring within PTI would be a preferred path to political stability.
At the upcoming election of the Senate, Fazl said that consultations with other political parties were in their early stages and refused to comment further.
He also distanced himself from the federal government and said, “If I was agreed with the government’s decisions, I would have been part of it. When seats in the assemblies were for sale during the election, how could I adapt to such a government?”
Despite sharp criticism, he maintained that if the government ever had to meet external aggression or conflict, he would stand with it in the national interest. “Even with a thousand complaints, we will stand in a row if the war is imposed,” he said.
Jui-F chief expressed further deep concern about the deteriorating law and order situation in KP and warned that the province could no longer afford political and security stability.
“The ordinary citizen no longer feels safe. People are hesitant before leaving their homes,” he said, calling for an All-Parties conference to tackle the security crisis. He said Jui-F would be open to dialogue with other opposition parties on this issue.
Read more: Shehzad Akbar appointed to Key accused in £ 190m case
When he commented on his own past period, he said Fredsen prevailed under his government. “There were no control points and people moved freely. The parties may disagree, but there is no enmity among us,” he said.
When he repeated his many years of opposition to the merger of the previously federally administered tribal areas (FATA) in KP, he criticized all political parties for what he called a hasty decision. “Everyone jumped into that power, but we still warned that it wasn’t right. Now we have to accept that it was a mistake,” he said.
He argued that turning the merger would be in the national interest and questioned why the expansion of legal and administrative systems to the region had not been realized.
Jui-F chief also mentioned that a magnificent tribe Jirga was planned for tomorrow and expressed respect for the tribal representatives who participated in it.
ALSO READ: India deported by force nearly 1,900 Muslims after Pahalgam -Attack: Report
FAZL criticized the KP government for what he described as wasting expenses. “Our province’s funds are used to appoint parliamentary secretaries and to finance luxury. This is a government born of rigging and extortion,” he claimed.
In response to a question about former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, he said: “No politician should be in prison, although politicians end up there. Our goal must be the country’s progress and prosperity.” He also noted that there was no objection if the PTI founders came to Pakistan.
Jui-F chief concluded that his party would never seek power on undemocratic means. “Whether it is the federal or provincial government is both sold out. We do not want power that is assigned to us by the boots – we want support from the people,” he added.
