Fazlur Rehman Advocates for Pashtun Rights at FATA Jirga
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman strongly defended Pashtun rights while addressing the Pashtun FATA National Consultative Jirga at Nishtar Hall, Peshawar.
He reaffirmed his stance against injustice, pledging to continue the struggle for constitutional and democratic rights.
Read More: PTI Team Visits Fazlur Rehman’s Residence
Commitment to Pashtun Rights
Fazlur Rehman declared his readiness to mobilize for the rights of Pashtuns, just as he had done for religious schools. “There will be bloodshed, but we will once again rise for our rights,” he asserted, emphasizing his unwavering support for the oppressed.
He accused the state of marginalizing Pashtuns and criticized the government’s approach toward tribal areas. “Those who gather to demand their rights are met with bullets,” he lamented. He also argued that banning his party without any proven allegations would be unconstitutional.
FATA Merger and Governance Concerns
Addressing the FATA merger, he clarified that JUI-F was not against integration but opposed the process due to a lack of consultation with local residents. “The merger was supposed to bring peace, yet we still gather in jirgas today to seek peace,” he remarked.
Fazlur Rehman also challenged the federal government’s control over provincial resources, asserting that Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have sole rights over their natural wealth. “The federation has no right to these resources,” he stressed.
Defending Pashtun Identity
Calling Pashtuns a “proud nation,” he emphasized his long-standing association with tribal jirgas and his consistent support for FATA residents’ right to self-determination. “We wanted the people of FATA to have the right to live their lives as they wish,” he concluded.
