JUI-F looks to join opposition ranks

JUI-F looks to join opposition ranks. Kalbe Ali Published August 22, 2026 Updated August 22, 2026 07: 22am.

Key points

• Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Senator Dilawar Khan, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay and others were part of the JUI-F team.
• ISLAMABAD: The joint opposition, including the JUI-F and Tehreek-I-Tahafuz Ayin-I-Pakistan (TTAP), on Friday held a session to formulate out their future political strategy.
• Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with almost 20 years of field reporting experience.
• Referring to relations with China, the Maulana remarked Pakistan had damaged Beijing's confidence and alleged that the country was becoming increasingly isolated.
• Asad Qaiser and Salman Akram Raja criticised the administration, mainly referring to the recent fiasco related to the hospital check-up of the PTI founder.

They agreed in principle to form a joint opposition platform in parliament to take more effective action on key national problems.

Speaking to the media after session representatives of opposition parties at his residence, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman expressed concern over what he described as the country's deteriorating law and order situation, claiming that two provinces were facing war-like conditions and that the writ of the administration was being challenged.

Those who attended the session included TTAP chief and National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Senate Opposition Lea­der and Majlis Wahdat-I-Muslimeen chief Alla­ma Raja Nasir Abbas, and PTI leaders Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Aamir Dogar.

Agrees to form joint parliamentary platform with TTAP alliance for 'effective action on national problems'.

"The lives of citizens have become miserable and everyone feels insecure, " he remarked, adding that the administration was offering assurances but the objectives behind repeated security operations had yet to be achieved.

For context, the JUI-F chief remarked the opposition had raised similar worries previously, but no meaningful change had occurred in the situation.

While the closure of Pakistan's western border had deprived the region of trade and business opportunities, he remarked traders in the tribal areas had been badly affected.

He criticised what he described as the government's narrative on national affairs and remarked the country was facing serious challenges that could not be addressed through political distractions.

Commenting on demands for the creation of new provinces, he remarked there was no preparation or groundwork for such a move.

For context, the Maulana remarked the opposition had decided to take its collective position directly to the residents. Responding to the prime minister's call for dialogue, he remarked that "it takes two hands to clap". He continued that the administration was acting against the interests of the individuals.

He remarked the opposition representatives would now consult their respective parties before holding another gathering to decide the future course of action.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Achakzai. This person is additionally the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief, cautioned against attempts to take control of the country's resources, saying that if the situation continued and political forces were pushed to the wall, he would be prepared to approach international courts.

During his speech, Mr Abbas alleged that the country was being run without regard for the rule of law and that even the Supreme Court had been defied, referring to the government's move to take PTI founder Imran Khan to Pims instead of Shifa International Hospital.

Mr Abbas remarked a country where laws were not respected could not be considered a properly functioning state.

Kalbe Ali is a senior staff reporter for Dawn based in Islamabad, with almost 20 years of field reporting experience. As well as religious affairs, he covers a diverse range of topics, including the internet, IT and telecom sectors.

For now, JUI-F looks to join opposition ranks remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.