Political temperatures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to rise. In a bold move, Engineer Ziaur Rehman — younger brother of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman — has accepted the political challenge thrown by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
The confrontation began with CM Gandapur’s press conference in Lahore. There, he dared Maulana Fazlur Rehman to contest elections against his own brother in Dera Ismail Khan. Gandapur even vowed to resign from politics if defeated. But he also demanded the same from the JUI-F leader if he lost the contest.
Instead of staying silent, Ziaur Rehman hit back with a fiery video statement late Sunday night. He rejected the idea of involving his elder brother and accepted the electoral battle himself.
“Gandapur, I accept your challenge,” Zia said. “Maulana doesn’t need to respond to someone like you. You’re not worth it. Face me if you dare.”
Zia accused the chief minister of using distractions because he’s losing his hold on power. “Try defeating this son of Mufti Mahmood first,” he declared. “It was Maulana Fazlur Rehman who removed your leader from power. Now, make your brother resign and send him to face me.”
The tone of Zia’s message made it clear — this was not just a reply, it was a full-fledged political confrontation. He also attacked Gandapur’s family claims. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — if you took a DNA test, you wouldn’t even qualify as a real Gandapur. The true Gandapurs are noble and brave. You are not one of them.”
Engineer Ra Ziaur Rehman, another family member, also joined in. He mocked Gandapur’s background and said that JUI-F was ready to take political control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The chief minister’s fear shows in his voice,” Ziaur Rehman added. “He’s clearly rattled. The public will soon break free from this corrupt system.”
This political face-off marks a new chapter in the ongoing rivalry between the JUI-F and the PTI in KP. Just two days earlier, Maulana Fazlur Rehman spoke at a press conference in Peshawar. He called for a leadership change — not from outside, but from within PTI itself.
He hinted at bigger plans. “We’re discussing it internally,” the JUI-F chief said. “But one thing is certain — this province can no longer survive under political chaos.”
The political challenge between Ziaur Rehman and CM Gandapur has now added fuel to an already volatile situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The coming days are expected to bring further drama as the showdown builds momentum.