Political Tensions Escalate Between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor and JUI-F Leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Political tensions between Faisal Karim Kundi, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of Pakistan’s Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), have intensified over the security situation and political status in the province. The governor had previously stated that if Fazlur Rehman is dissatisfied with the government’s performance, he could leave Pakistan, go to Afghanistan, and live alongside the Taliban administration.
In response, Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned the governor’s familial and political background and said that those who wish to live in Pakistan must recognize their position and rights in the country; otherwise, they may migrate to the United Kingdom.
The JUI-F leader referred to the ethnic and historical ties of Pashtuns on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, emphasizing that Afghanistan is the homeland of the Pashtuns and that Pashtuns residing in Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan are supported there.
Fazlur Rehman, known as a religious figure close to the Taliban administration, has repeatedly recognized the Taliban government and called for the expansion of Pakistan’s relations with the group. He also questioned the governance structure of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stating that the governor’s role is merely ceremonial and that real power rests with a council operating under the prime minister’s supervision.
The Pakistani cleric accused the government of pressuring party members and religious scholars affiliated with JUI-F, claiming that government officials frequently summon and harass them on an hourly basis to extract statements against him.
Referring to past government experiences in dealing with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasized that JUI-F cannot be controlled using similar methods. These remarks come amid escalating security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and heightened political tensions across Pakistan, with divergent approaches toward developments in Afghanistan further fueling the discord.
