Engineer Ziaur Rehman, the younger brother of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has accepted Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s challenge for an election in Dera Ismail Khan amid escalating political tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The event followed CM Gandapur’s challenge to the JUI-F leader to run for office against the chief minister’s brother, DI Khan, at a press conference on Sunday in Lahore. Gandapur had promised to leave politics if he lost, but he also said Maulana Fazl ought to follow suit.
In a forceful video message that was made public late Sunday night, Ziaur Rehman, however, rejected his older brother’s offer and accepted the gauntlet himself.
“I accept your challenge, Gandhipur. Maulana’s answer is not worthy of you. Zia accused the chief minister of taking desperate measures as his hold on power waned and warned, “Face me instead.”
He referred to their father, a well-known religious expert, and said, “First, try defeating this son of Mufti Mahmood.” Maulana Fazlur Rehman pulled your leader out of the position of authority. Put your brother against me and force him to resign.
“I had once publicly stated that if a DNA test were conducted, he wouldn’t even qualify as a real Gandapur,” Zia added, further asserting that Gandapur lacked the ancestry he frequently brags about. He is not one of the courageous and well-respected Gandapurs.
Similar views were expressed by another family member, engineer Ra Ziaur Rehman, who criticised Gandapur’s qualifications and claimed that the JUI-F was ready to unseat the PTI from political power in KP.
Zia claimed that the chief minister’s tone and words betrayed increasing uneasiness. His anguish and annoyance indicate that his time is running out. Soon, the people of KP will be released from this corrupt government’s grip.
The province’s long-running rivalry between the JUI-F and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has intensified as a result of the political slugfest.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman himself had called for political reform in KP at a press conference in Peshawar just two days prior, but he added that it should originate from inside the PTI. He told reporters, “I have made my suggestion, there should be a change in the province.”
He warned that KP could no longer afford political instability but added that his party would hold internal consultations before making any decisions.
