Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Wednesday emphasized the need for empowering politicians and pursuing a political approach to address the grievances of the people in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing the National Assembly, the JUI-F chief warned against dismissing the importance of parliament, political parties, and leadership. He advocated for ending military dominance in civilian affairs, stating that aiming to become a “panacea” for the problem, as in Faisalabad’s Clock Tower example, is not a viable solution.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned whether the government had the authority and capability to make its own decisions. He urged the government to consult with the opposition and engage in dialogue with the disaffected populations, asserting that parliament could help restore normalcy if it actively engages with the people of Balochistan and KP.
He observed that the government seemed to have lost control in Balochistan and KP, where armed groups were imposing taxes and patrolling with heavy weaponry. He criticized both extremes in the debate—those advocating separation and those vowing to use force—suggesting such stances jeopardize national security.
The JUI-F chief lamented that parliament had not taken the August 26 terrorist attacks in Balochistan seriously, and expressed concern that experienced political leaders were being sidelined despite their potential to resolve these issues.
He also pointed out that Pakistan was caught in a proxy war between the US and China, with obstacles being created for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. He criticized the government’s handling of terrorism and noted disruptions in development work from Balochistan to Dera Ismail Khan. Maulana Fazlur Rehman pledged to continue criticizing the government’s policies but offered his support on national security issues.
Regarding missing persons, he highlighted that some families had been waiting for information about their loved ones for up to 20 years. He stressed that it was the government’s duty to update families on their whereabouts.
On provincial rights, Maulana Fazlur Rehman emphasized that the Constitution guarantees resource rights under the 18th Amendment and criticized any attempts to occupy these resources by the state.
He expressed concern about diminishing trust in the army due to actions that erode public confidence and addressed the issue of missing persons by stressing the government’s responsibility to provide updates to families.
Fact-Finding Mission
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan also underscored the need to address public grievances and suggested a fact-finding mission to Balochistan to better understand the situation.
He proposed forming a committee to engage with the people of Balochistan and highlighted the need to take veteran politician Akhtar Mengal’s resignation from the National Assembly seriously.
Omar Ayub Khan claimed that even the chief minister and his cabinet members could not leave the Red Zone and that Baloch youth were reluctant to engage with them, believing they were compromised. He acknowledged the genuine grievances of the Baloch people and criticized the government’s reluctance to negotiate with those labeled as terrorists, questioning how the federation would function under such conditions.
He accused the government of lacking interest in resolving these issues and claimed that outside influences were dictating actions. Omar Ayub Khan also spoke about alleged persecution of his party, PTI, and criticized the government for jailing PTI leaders in fictitious cases.
Rejecting allegations of PTI’s involvement in the May 9 attacks, he challenged the production of evidence in court. He also condemned the recent attempted abduction of a man in Peshawar, calling for an apology from the Punjab chief minister and legal action against officials involved in the “illegal operation.”
Omar Ayub Khan expressed frustration over media blackouts of parliamentary proceedings and noted that even Balochistan’s treasury members could not address issues of enforced disappearances without fear of becoming missing themselves.
