Bilawal condemns govt actions against Fazl in phone call

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday condemned what he described as government actions and political victimisation against Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.

During the conversation, the two leaders discussed the country’s political situation, according to a statement shared by the PPP on social media platform X.

Bilawal said that the government should tolerate criticism from the opposition, stressing that a responsible opposition played an important role in a democratic and parliamentary system.

“The government should tolerate the opposition’s criticism,” Bilawal was quoted as saying.

پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کو جمعیت علمائے اسلام کے سربراہ مولانا فضل الرحمان کا فون

چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری اور مولانا فضل الرحمان کے درمیان ملکی سیاسی صورت حال پر تبادلہ خیال

چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی جمعیت علمائے اسلام کے خلاف حکومتی اقدامات، ان کے…

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) November 15, 2026

He also urged the government to refrain from actions that could undermine democracy and Parliament, and condemned what the PPP statement described as political vengeance against the JUI-F chief.

The telephone contact comes amid escalating tensions between Fazlur Rehman and the federal government, following a series of exchanges between the JUI-F chief and federal ministers over the Centre’s policies, the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the province’s political and economic rights.

The JUI-F also held demonstrations in several cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, protesting against what it called propaganda targeting its leadership and the ongoing anti-encroachment campaign.

The party’s provincial chapter had announced the protests earlier this week after a meeting of its executive council in Peshawar.

Provincial chief Senator Maulana Attaur Rahman said the demonstrations were intended to condemn what he described as fabricated statements, videos and other propaganda against Fazlur Rehman and JUI-F leaders.

The party also criticised the provincial administration’s anti-encroachment operations, alleging that legal shops, commercial buildings, houses and mosques had been targeted. It expressed solidarity with affected traders and shopkeepers.

The JUI-F has further raised concerns over the management of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s mineral resources, demanding that details of agreements with foreign countries concerning the exploitation and transportation of minerals be made public.

Attaur Rahman said the party stood by Fazlur Rehman’s position on the issue and would launch an awareness campaign to highlight its concerns.

The latest protests reflect the widening differences between the JUI-F and the federal government, which have intensified since the imposition of governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in October.

Fazlur Rehman has criticised the Centre’s decision, questioned its justification and accused the federal government of undermining provincial rights. He has also alleged that the government has failed to honour commitments made to him during his efforts to facilitate political engagement between the federal and provincial governments.

The JUI-F chief’s criticism has drawn sharp responses from federal ministers, further straining relations between the party and the ruling coalition.

Bilawal calls for political reconciliation

Bilawal’s telephone conversation with Fazlur Rehman follows a series of public calls by the PPP chairman for the government to reduce political confrontation and engage opposition parties.

On November 10, Bilawal called for a “political reset”, urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to restore the confidence of coalition partners before reaching out to opposition parties.

He said political parties needed to work together rather than remain engaged in confrontation, particularly as Pakistan and other countries faced mounting economic pressures amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The PPP chairman said the government should build trust with its allies and the opposition instead of opening new fronts with political opponents.

Earlier, on November 6, Bilawal had advised the federal government to engage political, social and provincial stakeholders rather than “fighting everyone”.

He specifically referred to tensions with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Fazlur Rehman, warning that continued political confrontation would divert attention from the economic difficulties facing the country.

“If we continue to fight among ourselves” and remain engaged in disputes with PTI, the JUI-F chief and other political actors, Bilawal had said, the government would struggle to focus on public concerns.

His latest remarks are also consistent with his earlier position that Fazlur Rehman has the right to criticise government policies and that there should be room for disagreement in a democratic system.

In October, Bilawal had said that if the JUI-F chief helped facilitate political harmony between the government and opposition, it could help resolve the political impasse in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The PPP chairman had also urged Fazlur Rehman to facilitate dialogue between the federal government and PTI, arguing that the JUI-F chief commanded respect across political divides.

PPP’s position in ruling coalition

The latest contact is politically significant as the PPP supports the PML-N-led federal government in Parliament but is not part of the federal cabinet.

The party has repeatedly used its position as a key coalition partner to urge the government to consult political stakeholders and avoid unnecessary confrontation.

Bilawal’s calls for reconciliation have come as the federal government faces criticism from opposition parties over its handling of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while tensions with the JUI-F have added another source of political friction.

The PPP chairman has maintained that political differences should not prevent dialogue and that the government must respect the opposition’s constitutional role.