ISLAMABAD— Senior journalist Hafeezullah Niazi has disclosed that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman felt he was unfairly denied the opportunity to form a government in Balochistan following the February 8 general elections.
Speaking on a program on ARY News, Niazi recounted a detailed meeting with Molana Fazl-ur-Rehman after the elections, during which the JUI-F leader expressed intense anger over what he perceived as “great injustice” in Balochistan.
“Molana was highly incensed,” Niazi stated, explaining that Fazl-ur-Rehman felt if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could be “facilitated” into forming a government at the centre, he too should have been “facilitated” into securing the government in Balochistan.
According to Niazi, the JUI-F leader complained that his party workers in Balochistan were being “forcefully unsettled.”
Niazi, however, acknowledged Molana Fazl-ur-Rehman’s pragmatic approach, noting that the JUI-F chief also believed his party could have been “helped” to secure more seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province as well.
Molana Fazl-ur-Rehman had been actively visiting Balochistan in the post-election period, amidst reports of political maneuvering and coalition formation talks in the province. The ultimate formation of the government in Balochistan saw a coalition led by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the PML-N.