Amid rising political tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Engineer Ziaur Rehman - the younger brother of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman - has accepted Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s challenge for an electoral contest in Dera Ismail Khan.
The development came in response to a press conference held in Lahore on Sunday, where CM Gandapur dared the JUI-F leader to contest elections against the chief minister’s brother in DI Khan. Gandapur had pledged to resign from politics if defeated, but added that Maulana Fazl should do the same in case of a loss.
However, Ziaur Rehman, in a strongly-worded video message released late Sunday night, dismissed the challenge to his elder brother and instead threw down the gauntlet himself.
“Gandapur, I accept your challenge. You are not worthy of Maulana's response. Face me instead,” Zia said, accusing the chief minister of resorting to desperate tactics as his grip on power weakens.
“First, try defeating this son of Mufti Mahmood,” he said, referring to their father and renowned religious scholar. “Maulana Fazlur Rehman dragged your leader from the seat of power. Now, make your brother resign and put him up against me.”
Zia further claimed that Gandapur lacked the lineage he often boasts of, stating, “I had once publicly said that if a DNA test were done, he wouldn’t even qualify as a real Gandapur. The Gandapurs are brave and honourable people — he is not one of them.”
Engineer Ra Ziaur Rehman, also a family member, echoed similar sentiments, ridiculing Gandapur’s credentials and asserting that the JUI-F was prepared to wrest political control from the PTI in KP.
Zia said the chief minister’s rhetoric and tone revealed growing anxiety. “His pain and frustration show that his time is up. The people of KP will soon be freed from the clutches of this corrupt regime.”
The political slugfest marks an intensification of the ongoing rivalry between the JUI-F and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the province.
Just two days earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rehman himself had addressed a press conference in Peshawar, calling for political change in KP but adding that it should come from within the PTI ranks. “I have made my suggestion — there should be a change in the province,” he told reporters.
He added that his party would consult internally before deciding on its next move, but cautioned that KP could no longer afford political instability.
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