PESHAWAR: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Friday held a second round of protest rallies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against the killing of leading cleric Maulana Mohammad Idrees.

On Tuesday, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had announced that his party would hold two rounds of protest rallies, first on Wednesday and second on Friday, against the “martyrdom” of the cleric. The party had also staged demonstrations on Wednesday.

“On the appeal of the JUI-F, protest rallies were held across all districts of the province today after Friday prayers against the killing of Maulana Idrees,” reada statement released by the party’s media cell.

It added that a large protest demonstration was also staged by JUI-F outside the Peshawar Press Club, with protesters demanding the immediate arrest of the killers of Maulana Idrees.

Warns failure to arrest killers could trigger strong public reaction

The protesters decried the worsening law and order situation in the province and the “frequent killings of religious scholars”.

“The JUI-F is being punished for standing with the Constitution, law, and the state,” said the statement.

JUI-F provincial spokesperson Abdul Jalil Jan said after Friday prayers, street protests were held at district and tehsil levels in Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Nowshera, Swabi, Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar, Shangla, Swat, Buner, Upper and Lower Dir, Chitral, Malakand, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Hangu, Kohat and the tribal districts.

Addressing demonstrations, the JUI-F provincial and district leaders condemned the deteriorating law and order situation across the province, the killing of religious scholars and government measures against seminaries.

They said those trying to remove religious scholars from the scene should know that the JUI-F will continue to fight for the defence of Islam and Pakistan.

The party leaders assured the central leadership that workers across the province would be ready at a moment’s notice.

A large protest demonstration was also held outside the Peshawar Press Club.

Addressing protesters, the party leadership held the provincial government, administration and state institutions responsible for the killing of religious scholars.

Maulana Idrees was killed on Tuesday after unidentified assailants opened fire on his vehicle in the Tari­qabad area of Utmanzai.

In Charsadda, a large number of people, including traders, religious scholars and JUI-F workers, staged a protest demonstration at Farooq-i-Azam Chowk against the killing of Maulana Idrees.

The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the killers and their facilitators. They warned that they would intensify their agitation if the killers were not arrested at the earliest.

The speakers said the slain cleric had devoted his life to teaching religious education, adding that the Maulana had always raised his voice in support of those serving the country.

The speakers questioned when the custodians of the constitution would ensure peace in the country, urging the government to identify those behind the assassination. They warned that failure to arrest the killers could provoke a strong public reaction.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Frontier Corps (North) Major-General Rao Imran Sartaj visited the residence of slain religious scholar in Turnagzai and offered condolences to the bereaved family.

The IGFC commander expressed deep sorrow over the killing of the noted cleric and paid tribute to his religious, academic and social services. He said Maulana Idrees had devoted his entire life to Islamic teachings, education and promotion of peace and harmony in society.

The IGFC termed the Maulana Idrees assassination an irreparable loss and assured the family that perpetrators would be brought to justice at all costs.

He said anti-peace elements and their malicious designs would be defeated and all possible steps would be taken to ensure peace in the region.

Also in the day, former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, renowned cricketer Shahid Afridi and DIG Mardan Rab Nawaz also visited Charsadda and expressed condolences to the slain cleric’s son, Maulana Anees Ahmad.

In Mardan, a protest demonstration was organised by JUI-F Mardan chapter at Nahar Chowk Par Hoti against the killing of Maulana Idrees and lawlessness in the province.

The speakers termed the killing of a leading religious scholar as failure of the federal and provincial governments, demanding arrest of the killers and their facilitators. They marched from Par Hoti Chowk to Kacha Road.

In Bannu, the JUI-F organised a protest gathering after Friday prayers at the Jamia Masjid Hafiz Ji against the killing of Maulana Idrees.

A number of religious scholars, students, tribal elders and other residents participated in the gathering. Addressing participants, JUI-F district general secretary Maulana Syed Abdul Jalal Shah paid tribute to the religious services of the slain cleric.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2026