Fazlur Rehman rejects KP governor’s rule, alleges bid to seize mineral resources

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, alleging that the measures were aimed at gaining control of the province’s mineral resources.

ISLAMABAD: 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, alleging that the measures were aimed at gaining control of the province’s mineral resources.

Speaking at a news conference after a meeting of the party’s Central Majlis-e-Shura, Fazlur Rehman called for an in-camera session of parliament to brief lawmakers on the situation. He also said JUI-F would not nominate any member to the interim council being formed to administer the province.

He criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying the party had overseen the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but was now returning the former tribal areas to federal control.

Fazlur Rehman also called for greater unity among Muslim-majority countries, describing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as ineffective and urging it to become a more effective bloc. He said Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia were intended to undermine unity among Muslim countries.

He also rejected allegations that his party had sought the governor’s office from the federal government.