Jamat Disadvanta-e-Islam-Fazl (Jui-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has threatened to march against Islamabad, whose tribal question remained unresolved, claiming that while his party remained loyal to Pakistan and its constitution, it will not accept “forced decisions”.

He turned to a tribal Jirga in Peshawar on Monday, calling for confidence-building measures and urging the government to tackle tribal complaints through Jirgas.

“If these Jirgas do not solve the problems, we marry on Islamabad,” he claimed.

“If we can marry for religious seminars, we can also march for the tribal people. The story will remember you as residents and oppressors,” added the priest-politician.

He said he had consistently participated in tribe Jirgas, including during the merger of the previously federally managed tribal areas (FATA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

He clarified that although his party did not oppose the merger directly, it had always insisted that the decision should not have been made without consulting the people in FATA.

“Before the merger, a Jirga had decided that the future of tribal areas should be left to people’s will – whether they would continue under Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), become a separate province or integrate into an existing one”

A referendum was required on the question, he added.

He recalled that the state had promised peace in return for the merger, but today neither security nor stability in KP and tribal districts exists.

“If there was peace, every person’s dignity and honor would be protected. If there was peace, human rights would not be violated. If there was peace, there would be employment,” he noted, pointing to the worsening law and order situation.

The pastor politician said that Islam was a religion of peace and his party’s advocates of a peaceful system. “We are in parliament but the establishment of an Islamic system remains our regular demand.”

“The Constitution requires no law in violation of Islam to be adopted, but we see a democracy devoid of implementation,” he claimed.

FAZL also asked who really maintained the constitution in the country. “When we talk about the Constitution and the rule of law, we are accused of trying to break the country. The Constitution is a sacred contract.”