The rise of “extremist” parties like JUI-F and TLP— two of Pakistan’s hardline religious political parties—would harm the country’s national interest, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary said, terming the ruling party PTI as only the “only national party” good for the country. 

The remark came on Tuesday, days after the ruling party led by Prime Minister Imran Khan suffered a surprising and humiliating defeat in local elections in the country’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam- F (JUI-F), led by hardliner cleric Fazlur Rahman, scored what many termed as “unexpected victory,” giving a setback to Imran Khan’s PTI.  

Calling JUI-F an “extremist party”, Fawad in a press conference on Tuesday said he was disappointed to see that JUI-F scored maximum numbers of mayors and chairmen in the first phase of the recently held local body polls. 

He further said that parties like JUI-F and TLP are a sign of a “retrogressive society”,  and indicate that “things in the country are not fine.” It is not a reassuring thing for society when people who are against women’s rights and against freedoms come into power, he said.

Significantly, JUI-F’s earlier stint in power in the province was criticized harshly. Curtailing the rights of women, their access to education and the ban on music are among many controversial decisions that marked the party’s rule in KP.

Mohsin Dawar, a prominent Pashtun leader from the region, known for his opposition to the country’s hardliner religious parties and groups, also warned about the future direction of the country. 

In a tweet on Tuesday, Dawar, who represents militancy-ridden North Waziristan seat in the country’s National Assembly, said, “Pashtunkhwa is still reeling from the last tenure of the MMA when Taliban strengthened while the MMA focused on banning music & defacing  billboards.” 

He further added, “We fear a new military mullah alliance in the making and a repeat of the strategic chaos that destroys our security & prosperity.” Importantly, Dawar is one of the most prominent critics of the policy of appeasing Islamists— a project, he says, is sponsored by the country’s powerful military establishment. 

On the other hand, the PTI’s assertion—that, it is the only national party to fight those ills— sounds shallow, especially when its government had recently signed a secret deal with the likes of TLP. Furthermore, the government also holding talks with TTP, a banned group responsible for the killings of over 10,000 civilians. 

Experts had warned the Khan’s government against mainstreaming the TLP, whose rise will only eat into the space of mainstream political parties. 

(SAM)