Rift within JUI-F

It was only a matter of time before the rift would emerge within the JUI-F over the PDM’s narrative. JUI-F leaders have realized that they cannot carry forward the diatribe being pushed by Maulana Fazlur Rehman against state institutions and have started to oppose him.

The most vocal statement came from senior JUI-F leader Maulana Sherani who spelled doom for the PDM, saying it will fail in its strategy to oust Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government. Taking a direct jibe, he called the JUI-F chief as ‘selected’ – a term that the opposition has been using against the prime minister. He claims the PDM has no ideology or strategy and will not succeed in its mission. In fact, he went one step further by claiming that JUI-F was not a ‘hereditary’ party and they will establish their own offices in Balochistan.

This is the first act of rebellion against the JUI-F chief and was quickly followed by several other party leaders. They have probably realized that the PDM has diverted from its main mission to topple Imran Khan’s and has embraced the anti-state narrative peddled by Nawaz Sharif. The party is certainly concerned by Maulana Sherani’s statement and has convened a meeting to discuss the issue.

After the first PDM rally, another JUI-F leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed had also shown his dissent over the anti-state narrative. He was removed as the party’s spokesperson rather than being heard. JUI-F leaders and activists are still disappointed over his unceremonious departure. The politico-religious party has been taking on the narrative of the PML-N by directly confronting the establishment. The party has the strength to pick up a fight but it would create chaos in case there is an altercation.

The PML-N has dismissed the rift within the JUI-F and termed it a conspiracy to break up the alliance. The protests and rallies are not over yet and now heading back to Sindh. The PPP has used the death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto to push forward PDM’s narrative. Bilawal has invited Maryam Nawaz to attend the political rally on December 27. Despite the surging pandemic, both parties are continuing the rhetoric against the government.

It will be a matter of time before a rift emerges within other parties as the burden of clashing with the establishment will be heavy to carry forward. This has given impetus to the government stance that opposition has united under the banner of PDM to escape the accountability narrative rather than resolving the nation’s problems.