JUI-F postpones protest after Balochistan CM Bugti’s assurances
• Ruling coalition requests 10-day period for party consultations on seminary act
• Balochistan CM meets Maulana Wasey to de-escalate tensions
QUETTA: The Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has postponed a planned protest after receiving assurances from Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti to resolve disputes over alleged raids on religious seminaries through negotiations, the party announced on Thursday.
The decision followed a meeting between CM Bugti and JUI-F Provincial Emir Senator Maulana Abdul Wasey at the senator’s residence, aimed at de-escalating tensions that led to a strike by the party a day earlier. The chief minister was accompanied by ministers from coalition parties.
“We have discussed the issues in detail and decided to resolve all matters through negotiations,” Maulana Wasey said at a press conference after the meeting.
He confirmed the protest has been postponed until May 20 after CM Bugti pledged that “such situations would not be allowed to arise again during his tenure”. Maulana Wasey said the party is ready to discuss the registration of seminaries under the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
The JUI leader concluded that nothing in politics is final, and matters are resolved through dialogue and consultation.
Separately, speaking to the media, CM Bugti described the talks as productive and reiterated his government’s support for the religious institutions.
“Religious seminaries are an important part of society, and the government will continue to provide every possible support for their development and improvement,” he said.
He explained that the Madrasa Registration Act, already passed by the national parliament, will now be presented in the Balochistan Assembly.
CM Bugti said he and his coalition partners had requested a 10-day period from the JUI-F to consult their respective party leaderships on the proposed provincial legislation.
He expressed hope that the issue would be settled through mutual understanding and that consensus-based legislation would be passed in the assembly.
Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026