A splinter faction in the Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam (JUI) has emerged with the name of JUI-P at a critical time when parent party JUI-F is leading a movement to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan.
But, this is not the first time that a faction has emerged in the party and the political analysts believe that it does not pose a serious threat to Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.
Maulana Muhammad Sherani served as the head of Jamiat-e-Ulema Fazl (JUI-F) Balochistan for eons but encountered defeat in 2019.
He was defeated by Maulana Wasey who took over as the JUI-F Balochistan.
Besides this, Maulana Sherani remained the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideological (CII).
The other rebellious member is Hafiz Hussain Ahmed who was also attached with the JUI-F Balochistan organization. He had also served as the party’s spokesperson.
Another prominent member of the new faction, Maulana Gul Naseeb, had remained a senator and JUI-F Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) President.
Maulana Shuja-ul-Mulk is a former MNA and had also been the JUI-F Provincial General Secretary.
Challenge for Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman?
The political analysts believe that all members of the new faction of JUI-P are aged and unable to lead an effective campaign against JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman.
They added that Maulana Sherani had lost his grip in the party’s Balochistan organization and his defeat in the party election was an example of it.
JUI-P and JUI-F
It is believed that the new wing of the JUI-P would not pose a serious threat to the JUI-F chief as he has a stronghold on the party and chances of ‘internal rebellion’ are vague.
Splinter factions in JUI
- Maulana Abdullah Darkhawasti was the co-founder of JUI but he formed a splinter group in the party at the time of JUI founder Maulana Mufti Mehmood was alive.
- After the death of JUI Founder Mufti Mehmood Ahmed in the 1980s, Maulana Maulana Samiul Haq had formed his own splinter group from JUI by the name of JUI-S.
- Previously, the formation of JUI-Nazaryati (JUI-N) in the party in 2007 damaged JUI-F in the election. However, this forced Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman to reconcile with the ideological group.
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Similarly, JUI-P could only inflict small damage to the JUI-F in the election in Balochistan, political experts assume. It is likely uncertain that JUI-P Head Maulana Sherani will throw a big challenge to Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman due to the age factor.
However, the allegations he put on JUI-F’s chief are serious though.
Why members are exasperated?
The rift in the party emerged when Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman paved way for his brother to be a senator and made room for his son to become an MNA.
Along with this, the women of the JUI-F chief’s family are also occupying important seats in the party.
Owing to this, many of the senior party leaders were angry with Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman and believed that he was enforcing dynastical values in the political party.