The results of the recent February elections did not turn out as expected for JUI leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Meanwhile, his former political allies, PML-N and PPP, also distanced themselves from him, which Maulana did not appreciate.
The major parties from Sindh and Punjab did not include Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of PDM, in the power-sharing after JUI’s unexpected defeat in the third-largest province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). In the fourth province, Balochistan, Maulana himself had been elected as a member of the National Assembly, and JUI had won nearly as many seats as PPP and PML-N in the Balochistan Assembly. However, both PML-N and PPP completely ignored their former old ally, Maulana.
After Maulana’s refusal, PML-N, PPP, and MQM joined forces with PML-Q during the Lahore meeting, not only sharing key federal government positions among themselves but also deciding to form the government in Balochistan without involving Maulana. In their political maneuvering, the two major parties, PML-N and PPP, also aligned themselves with the third major party, MQM, while sidelining their allies, Akhtar Mengal and Mehmood Khan Achakzai. They even gave importance to the single-seat BAP party and divided key positions among themselves. Intentionally, they shut the doors of power-sharing on Maulana, leaving him embroiled in a political struggle. This gave Imran Khan an opportunity to exploit the situation. He sent PTI leaders to approach his two political rivals, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Mehmood Khan, despite previously accusing them during his time in power.
Imran Khan seized the moment and turned them into opponents of the government. He made Mehmood Achakzai, who had just one seat, the head of a new political alliance aligned with him. However, he did not form an anti-government alliance under the leadership of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who had eight seats in the National Assembly, as he was wary of Maulana’s towering stature. Maulana remained the only major political rival of PTI in KP, where PTI had a two-thirds majority, and JUI was its biggest competitor. JUI’s defeat in KP was particularly shocking, given that Maulana’s son-in-law, Ghulam Ali, was the governor, and the caretaker government was aligned with JUI’s preferences.
To add to Maulana’s distress, Imran Khan appointed Ali Amin Gandapur, a staunch opponent of Maulana and an aggressive politician, as the Chief Minister of KP. Gandapur, who defeated Maulana in his hometown of Dera Ismail Khan, strongly opposed any political alliance with him. Gandapur continues to obstruct Maulana’s influence in Dera Ismail Khan. On top of that, PPP made their former deputy speaker, Faisal Karim Kundi, who had recently lost to Gandapur, the Governor of KP. Now, Maulana finds himself with two fierce rivals in KP: the Governor and the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Maulana has been losing elections consistently since 2008.
The current situation in KP is extremely painful for Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and both the government and PTI are fully aware of this. Maulana is struggling through this political crisis. The government was compelled to engage with him due to the need for his votes on constitutional amendments. Both the President and the Prime Minister were forced, much like PTI, to visit Maulana’s residence. PTI has been making frequent visits to Maulana’s house, concerned that he might support the government on the amendments.
There are reports that, given the current political climate, Maulana has presented key demands to the government and sent only one message to Imran Khan: that the Chief Minister of KP be replaced. However, neither side has agreed to this demand. After several meetings, Bilawal Bhutto has reportedly told Maulana that the government will push the constitutional amendments through, even without his support if necessary. Maulana, meanwhile, has been skillfully playing his political cards, repeatedly making the government and PTI leaders visit him. He even hosted PTI leaders for dinner and attended Asad Qaiser’s luncheon himself.
Maulana is now employing sophisticated tactics in this political struggle. Though he has previously walked alongside PML-N and PPP, he remains distrustful of Imran Khan. In KP, PTI remains his primary political rival, even as PTI reaches out to him for the first time. Maulana knows Imran Khan’s reputation for turning his back once his objectives are met, so he is carefully considering his options. Maulana has already demonstrated his political importance to both the government and PTI. However, he may still choose to prioritize his old allies, PML-N and PPP, over PTI.