CHARSADDA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman here on Wednesday announced a countrywide protest against the killing of his party’s former MPA and noted cleric Maulana Mohammad Idrees and asked government to bring his killers to justice.

He visited Turangzai area in Charsadda district to offer condolences to the family of Maulana Idrees. He also participated in a ceremony held in connection with the Dastarbandi of the deceased scholar’s son Maulana Anis Ahmed.

Speaking on the occasion, the JUI-F chief said that the killers of Maulana Idress and their facilitators should be punished in accordance with the law of the land. He announced that his party would stage protests across the country on next Friday. JUIF would announce future line of action at a gathering in Karachi on May 14, he added.

He said that religious scholars played a key role in establishment and stability of the country. He said that they always rendered sacrifices for the country, but they exercised restraint. He said that some elements were hell-bent on creating lawlessness and provoking them into resorting to violence. He, however, said that they would not resort to violence.

Party workers stage rallies across KP to demand arrest of killers

The JUI-F leader said that difference of opinion should be respected. He said that differences should be resolved through dialogue instead of violence. He said that the martyrdom of Maulana Idrees deeply saddened them all.

He said the incident was not only loss for a family but a collective tragedy for JUI-F, religious seminaries and the entire Muslim Ummah. Although the perpetrators were currently unknown, he expressed confidence that Allah Almighty would bring them to justice.

He said that Maulana Idrees was a distinguished scholar, who consistently promoted peace, brotherhood and moderation throughout his life. He urged government to take immediate action and arrest both the perpetrators and their facilitators and bring them to justice under the law.

Mr Rehman said that countrywide protests would be held on Friday while future strategy would be announced at a major public gathering in Karachi on May 14. He said that JUI-F always pursued a peaceful struggle and did not believe in violent politics.

He said that certain elements were attempting to spread unrest and provoke reaction, but they would not be dragged into violence. He said that taking up arms against the state was prohibited in Pakistan and the people involved in such acts could not be called holy fighters. He advised people to show patience, wisdom and unity.

Meanwhile, JUI-F on Wednesday staged protest demonstrations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to condemn the killing of Maulana Idrees, who was shot dead by unknown assailants in his native Charsadda district a day earlier.

In Peshawar, a protest rally was taken out from Namak Mandi mosque. JUI-F provincial information secretary Haji Abdul Jalil Jan, district emir Syed Miskeen Shah, general secretary Maulana Ahmed Ali Dervesh, former nazim of Peshawar Haji Zubair Ali and other leaders led the rally.

In Charsadda, workers and leaders of JUI-F staged protest at Farooq-i-Azam Chowk and demanded immediate arrest of the cleric’s killers. Maulana Gohar Shah, Dr Ilahi Jan and others addressed the rally and strongly condemned the killing and termed it a failure of state institutions.

In Swabi, a large number of people gathered at Captain Karnal Sher Khan Chowk to protest the killing of Maulana Idrees. Maulana Aizazul Haq and Jamaat-i-Islami district chief Maulana Murad Khan addressed the protest and held government responsible for the tragedy.

In Dera Ismail Khan, activists of JUI-F took out a protest rally from GPO Chowk that concluded at Topanwala Chowk.

In Mohmand, a protest rally was held in Mian Mandi bazaar against the killing of Maulana Idrees. The rally was addressed by Mufti Mohammad Arif Haqqani, Mufti Talha Mahmood, Maulana Adil Noori, Maulana Samiullah, Mufti Mohammad Hanif Zaman, Saeed Safi, Maulana Bismillah Rahimi and Arshad Bakhtiar.

In Lower Dir, workers of JUI-F staged a protest demonstration in Timergara that was led by district chief of the party Sirajuddin.

In Bajaur, JUI-F local leaders Maulana Abdur Rasheed, Maulana Mohammad Laiq and Haji Said Badshah addressed a news conference and said that killing of Maulana Idrees shocked not only party workers across the province but also its entire residents as he was a notable religious figure, who worked to promote tolerance and religious harmony in the country.

Meanwhile, a large number of politicians and religious scholars including Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PML-N provincial chief Amir Muqam, JI former emir Sirajul Haq, ANP provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain, QWP provincial chairman Sikandar Hayat Sherpao, MNAs Asjad Mahmood and Zaid Akram Durrani and provincial minister Fazal Shakoor Khan, PMAs Arif Ahmadzai, Arshad Omarzai, Malik Tariq Awan, Ijaz Khan Daudzai and JUI-F workers and his students visited Charasadda to condole the killing of Maulana Idrees.

They said that the murder of Maulana Muhammad Idrees was a great loss not only for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but for the entire country because he was a great religious scholar, who dedicated his life to the service of religion and social reforms.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2026