PESHAWAR: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday suggested a political change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that any such shift should come from within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) ranks.
“My suggestion has been made — there should be a change in the province,” he said at a press conference in Peshawar.
He added that JUI-F would make decisions regarding the province only after party consultation, noting that the province cannot afford further political instability.
Commenting on the Senate, Fazl said it was too early to offer remarks on any possible adjustments.
On the political front, he said JUI-F has differences with PPP, PML-N and ANP, but not hostility. “There is no enmity between PTI and JUI either,” he said, adding that there had been a bitter chapter in their relationship in the past.
Addressing the law and order situation, Fazl stated that if the opposition reached out regarding the matter, he would be willing to sit and hold talks.
FATA merger ‘mistake
Regarding the former FATA’s merger with KP, he termed it a mistake.
“All parties must accept that FATA’s merger was a wrong decision,” he said, adding that the real issue was the political future of the tribal people, not the merger itself.
He said that JUI-F had previously tried to make decisions in consultation with tribal elders. “We had said no to the merger proposal — the tribes must be given the right to decide,” he said.
Fazl announced that a grand jirga of tribal leaders will reconvene tomorrow and that JUI-F will seek further consultation with them. He insisted that the consultation of tribal elders on the FATA matter was unavoidable.
He also questioned the composition of the committee on FATA-related affairs. “How many Pakhtuns are there in this committee, and how many members are from the province?” he asked. He said the committee had asked JUI-F for a name and recognised the party as a stakeholder.
Criticising the misuse of provincial funds, he remarked: “Our province’s money exists only so that perks may be taken.” He also expressed solidarity with oppressed children in KP and Balochistan, saying: “Whenever a child suffers in KP or Balochistan, I consider them my own.”
Highlighting governance issues, Fazl noted that even after eight years, no patwari (land revenue official) has been able to go to the FATA region.
