Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), levelled serious accusations against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) during a press conference on Saturday. He alleged that the PTI government makes extortion payments to militant groups, and its representatives are only then allowed access to their areas in the province.

Fazl vehemently denied any support for or affiliation with these groups, questioning the legitimacy of such actions. He stated, “What kind of Islam is this that says, ‘Give us money, and we’ll implement Sharia’?” He asserted that both his party and religious scholars in Afghanistan consider the actions of these armed groups un-Islamic and unlawful.

Expressing deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in KP, Fazl described the province as completely unsafe for ordinary citizens.

Responding to a question about his political differences, Fazl clarified that disagreement doesn’t equate to enmity. While advocating for a change in government in KP, he emphasized that this change should occur within the PTI itself, through internal party processes and consultations. Decisions regarding the province, he stated, will be made through party consultations.

Regarding the federal government, Fazl explained that his party’s absence from the ruling coalition is a direct result of their dissatisfaction with the federal government’s policies and actions.