Fazlur Rehman questions federal control of former FATA districts after KP emergency
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has questioned the federal government’s administrative arrangements in the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), demanding clarity over the region’s political future, constitutional rights and natural resources following the imposition of an emergency in 12 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing a Digital Media and Workers Convention organised by his party in Peshawar, Fazlur Rehman said the concerns of political leaders and tribal residents over the region’s administrative status should be addressed through arguments rather than allegations and character assassination.
The former FATA was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, ending its separate federally administered status.
However, the federal government imposed governor’s rule across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and an emergency in 12 designated districts on October 11, 2026, under Articles 234 and 232 of the Constitution, respectively.
The measures placed provincial government functions under Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and established a separate Area Development Secretariat (ADS) to oversee the 12 districts, including the eight districts carved out of the former FATA.
Fazlur Rehman questioned the arrangements, saying the government must explain the roles of federal authorities, the governor and the newly established administrative structures.
Questions over merger and administrative arrangements
Discussing the 2018 merger, the JUI-F chief claimed that senior figures had told him the decision was wrong and that proposals were being considered to reverse it and restore the tribal areas’ previous administrative status.
He alleged that the original merger had been carried out at the behest of a powerful entity and suggested that similar interests were behind proposals to bring the region back under federal administration.
Fazlur Rehman said the political and constitutional rights of tribal residents had been central to the merger debate, but the present issue was increasingly about the region’s resources and economic interests.
He questioned why a proper administrative system had not been established even 10 years after the merger.
The JUI-F chief said the old system of qanungos and patwaris remained in place, disputes over the division of inherited properties had not been resolved, and the police system had yet to be properly organised.
He argued that past decisions should be assessed in the context of the circumstances prevailing at the time, while current challenges required solutions based on present-day realities.
Raises questions over emergency and governor’s role
Fazlur Rehman also questioned the distribution of administrative powers following the imposition of emergency measures.
He said emergency-related matters were being handled directly by the Interior Ministry, while the prime minister’s direct role in matters concerning governor’s rule had also been mentioned.
He added that a council had been established to oversee routine affairs and issue instructions, raising questions about the governor’s role and the authority of the new administrative setup.
The JUI-F chief demanded an explanation of the constitutional provisions governing the measures, particularly Articles 232 and 234.
He said political and administrative changes must follow constitutional procedures and that disagreements should be resolved within the constitutional framework.
Calls for protection of tribal resources
Fazlur Rehman maintained that tribal residents were being deprived of their economic rights.
He called for transparent agreements between parties possessing natural resources and those providing the technology and expertise to exploit them.
The region’s resources should be treated as the property of its people, he said, stressing that local communities must receive their due economic rights.
Says critics are targeting his household
Responding to criticism against him, Fazlur Rehman alleged that some people were contacting religious scholars and party workers to persuade them to issue statements against him.
He claimed that critics were even searching for corruption in his household kitchen and generator.
He urged political opponents to maintain decency and restraint despite their differences.
The JUI-F chief said he continued to respect those who visited his home and rejected personal allegations and social media criticism as answers to the political questions he had raised.
Referring to Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, he described him as an elder brother and a respectable figure.
Fazlur Rehman said he had merely teased Asif, but the defence minister’s real anger emerged the following day.
Reacting to suggestions that he should move to Afghanistan, the JUI-F chief said he had no personal dispute with anyone and wanted answers to his questions as a Pakistani citizen.
Recalls role in PTI-government negotiations
Fazlur Rehman also discussed his role in negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying he had reservations about some of the party’s demands and its approach during its long march.
He said government representatives subsequently contacted him, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also invited him for a meeting.
However, he insisted on open dialogue involving the relevant parties instead of holding a secret meeting.
According to Fazlur Rehman, the prime minister proposed a solution, which he subsequently discussed with PTI leaders along with his own suggestions.
He said there were initially hopes of reaching a consensus, but he later received a telephone call from Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar informing him that the federal cabinet did not agree with the proposals.
Governor’s rule was imposed afterwards, he added.
The JUI-F chief stressed that commitments and dialogue mattered in politics, saying political affairs could not be conducted through false narratives.
He also rejected allegations that his party was sympathetic towards terrorism, arguing that political parties should be allowed to play their role freely.
Fazlur Rehman said his party would not be forced out of politics through pressure or threats, adding that its workers would not be intimidated by such tactics.
He called for a healthy political environment in which disagreements were addressed through democratic and political means.