By Samandar Khan
Chakwal: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman on Wednesday questioned the legitimacy of the incumbent government, describing its mandate as “fake”, and asked why Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan continued to remain incarcerated.
Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman questions legitimacy of government
Speaking to reporters in Chakwal, Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman said the central issue was not merely governance but “who actually owns the government and who is making the real decisions in the country”.
He claimed the ruling setup lacked a genuine public mandate and was governing on the basis of what he termed a fabricated one. Despite this, he said, power effectively rested with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was only providing support. “This is not a government of a fake majority, but of a fake minority,” he remarked.
Concerns over constitutional violations and political consensus
The JUI-F chief warned that legislation enacted in violation of the Constitution amounted to rebellion against it, which, he said, automatically nullified the government’s mandate. He added that his party was seeking to develop a consensus position through mutual consultation on the prevailing political situation.
Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman criticises debate on new provinces
Commenting on the proposed 28th constitutional amendment and renewed debate over the creation of new provinces, Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman said there was a clear disconnect between theoretical principles and ground realities. Referring to the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said his party had opposed the move with reasoned arguments and had warned of its potential repercussions.
“At the time, the establishment considered itself all-wise. Today, the same quarters admit the decision was wrong, and now there is talk of dividing other provinces as well,” he said.
Warnings over security and governance challenges
He questioned whether conditions on the ground were conducive to such steps, cautioning that the country could once again regret decisions that caused long-term damage. “Decisions are discussed casually and then enforced through the use of power. The Fata merger was also imposed through force, and today armed groups have gained control in those areas, while the writ of the state has weakened,” he added.
Views on Afghanistan policy and counter-terrorism
Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman said Pakistan’s policies towards Afghanistan over the past 75 to 78 years had remained flawed, and counter-terrorism strategies had failed to yield positive outcomes. “Decisions must be taken by politicians; force is applied only after political decisions are made,” he stressed.
Position on Imran Khan’s arrest and political freedoms
He further said a collective opinion was needed on shortcomings within the prosecution and other state institutions, adding that a clear stance would emerge at a conference of religious scholars scheduled for the 22nd of this month.
The JUI-F leader also termed restrictions on meetings with PTI founder Imran Khan as regrettable in a democratic system. “I even question why he has been arrested. I am neither in favour of arresting politicians nor of restricting meetings with them,” he said.
Call for clarity on decision-making authority
Reiterating his earlier point, Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman said the fundamental question remained: “Whose government is this, and who is actually making the decisions? We are all living under the impact of those decisions.”
Referring to the army chief, he said that the latter’s address to a gathering of religious scholars, at the start of a new phase of his tenure, should be viewed positively.
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