In a strongly worded statement, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Pakistan’s largest religious political party, has slammed the Pakistani Taliban, including factions led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, calling them “ignorant, extortionist, and foolish.”
Speaking to the media, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that these groups — who justify fighting against the Pakistani state and military — are acting out of sheer ignorance and stupidity. He condemned their actions, asserting that such behavior has no place in Islam or civilized society.
“These are nothing more than extortionists,” he said, “who demand money from contractors, businessmen, community leaders, religious scholars, and even madrasas.”
It is noteworthy that both Gul Bahadur and Noor Wali Mehsud, now leading factions of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were once associated with the JUI.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s remarks signal a deepening rift between mainstream religious leadership and militant offshoots operating under the banner of religious legitimacy.
