JUI-F announces protests across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on November 15
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter of JUI-F has announced street protests in all districts on November 15. The party cited the anti-encroachment drive, smear campaigns against its leaders and the province's mineral policy.
- JUI-F will hold protests in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa districts on November 15.
- The party objects to the anti-encroachment drive and alleged smear campaigns against its leaders.
- It demands that agreements with foreign countries on minerals be made public.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has announced protests across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on November 15. The party's provincial chapter directed all its district branches to hold street demonstrations, according to The Express Tribune and Daily Times.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the provincial executive committee at Mufti Mahmood Centre in Peshawar. The meeting was chaired by the provincial chief, Senator Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman, who announced the decisions.
The party said the protests support Maulana Fazlur Rehman's position on the province's mineral resources. It demanded that details of all agreements with foreign countries on mineral exploitation be made public, and asked for transparency on international trade agreements involving the transport of raw minerals. The committee also decided to run an awareness campaign on mineral resources and natural resource rights across the province.
Speaking at a news conference, Atta-ur-Rehman said the emergency in the province appeared aimed at facilitating anti-encroachment operations rather than combating terrorism. He criticised the provincial administration for prioritising demolitions over counter-terrorism, and said emergency measures should focus on restoring security rather than disrupting local businesses.
JUI-F expressed solidarity with traders whose shops, plazas and houses were demolished in recent drives. It demanded that authorities explain their reasons for acquiring the land and pay immediate compensation to affected owners.
Atta-ur-Rehman said the four-kanal Mufti Mahmood Markaz complex in Peshawar was built after building plans were approved by the Peshawar Development Authority. Party officials rejected statements by provincial authorities about the complex's legality and service road access.
The meeting also discussed alleged smear campaigns against party leaders using fabricated videos and photographs. JUI-F accused political opponents of coordinated propaganda. It said any change to the status of the merged tribal districts must reflect local public consensus and cautioned against top-down decisions to reverse the FATA-KP merger.
Members voiced concern over arrests of party workers and investigative notices from state institutions. The party's legal teams are preparing defence filings for detained activists in several districts.
Why it matters for Pakistan
The protests are planned in districts across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, so roads, transport and daily business in the province could be disrupted, as the desk noted. Traders whose shops, plazas and houses were demolished in the anti-encroachment drive are among those the party says it is speaking for. The dispute over agreements on the province's mineral resources and the status of the merged tribal districts also concerns residents of those areas.
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