Bilawal backs Fazlur Rehman as JUI-F-federal govt tensions grow

Bilawal shared his views during a telephone conversation with Fazl on Sunday, as political tensions between the JUI-F and the ruling coalition continue to rise.

Bilawal speaks to Fazlur Rehman

According to a PPP statement, Bilawal and Fazl discussed the country’s current political situation and recent developments. Bilawal “condemned the government’s actions and political vengeance” targeting the JUI-F and its leadership.

“The government should tolerate the opposition’s criticism,” Bilawal was quoted as saying in the statement. He said opposition parties have an “extremely important role in democracy and a parliamentary system”.

Bilawal also told Fazl that the “government should refrain from such actions that weaken democracy and the Parliament”. His remarks came as the JUI-F has been openly criticising the federal government over several political issues.

Political tensions grow between JUI-F and government

Relations between the JUI-F leadership and federal ministers have remained tense over the past month. On Sunday, the JUI-F also organised protests in several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against what it described as propaganda targeting the party and its leadership.

The disagreement became more serious after Fazlur Rehman accused the federal government of interfering in provincial matters and depriving provinces of their constitutional rights. He also criticised the Centre’s decision to impose governor’s rule and emergency in PTI-governed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fazl had also expressed concerns about the federal government failing to honour its commitments during his efforts to reduce tensions between the Centre and the KP government. Meanwhile, the federal government has repeatedly accused the provincial administration of deliberately avoiding cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.

Ministers and Fazl exchange strong remarks

The political dispute also led to a series of sharp exchanges between Fazlur Rehman and federal ministers. On October 16, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi claimed that a “head of a party” was “extremely upset over being denied a role in the new setup in KP and not getting the governorship”.

The following day, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry directly criticised Fazl. The JUI-F chief later clarified that his criticism was directed at government policies rather than state institutions.

The disagreement also reached Parliament, where Fazl questioned Khawaja Asif’s absence and Mohsin Naqvi’s participation in a meeting of Makkah Pact countries and Iran in Tehran. Naqvi later defended his participation and criticised the JUI-F, accusing it of “continuously crossing the line” and “extracting wealth from the state”.

Bilawal pushes for political unity

Bilawal has recently called on the federal government to improve relations with opposition parties and its political allies. He believes that political disagreements should be resolved through talks rather than confrontation.

On November 10, Bilawal called for a political reset and said, “Via this reset, political parties will have to work together instead of fighting,”. He had also urged the prime minister to engage political and social groups instead of “fighting everyone”.

His latest conversation with Fazl comes at a time when political differences between the government and opposition parties are becoming more serious. The PPP chairman’s statement also highlights his continued calls for dialogue and cooperation among political forces.

Bilawal’s conversation with Fazlur Rehman shows that political disagreements within Pakistan’s political system remain a major concern. His remarks suggest that the PPP wants the federal government to deal with opposition parties through dialogue rather than confrontation.

The growing dispute between Fazl and federal ministers could create further political pressure on the ruling coalition. Better communication between political parties may help reduce tensions and avoid further disagreements.

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