Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has launched a scathing attack on militant groups, accusing them of abandoning all religious and moral values by engaging in organized extortion — even targeting madrasahs for money. In a series of public statements and interviews, the Maulana categorically declared that these groups, once claiming to fight for Islam, are now nothing more than criminal mafias exploiting religion to terrorize innocent civilians and religious institutions alike.
His statements have hit militant factions hard, particularly the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has been trying desperately to contain the damage. The TTP has attempted to respond point-by-point to the Maulana’s criticism through various propaganda channels, but their counter-narratives have failed to gain traction. Analysts say the group’s inability to provide a logical or convincing reply has further exposed their ideological bankruptcy and weakened their standing among the very communities they once claimed to represent.
The fallout has been significant, with a growing number of religious scholars and madrasa leaders quietly aligning with Fazlur Rehman’s views. The militants’ credibility, already on the decline, has taken another blow as their propaganda is now being openly challenged and rejected. The narrative of “jihad” they once used to justify violence is crumbling, replaced by widespread public recognition of their criminal activities and political manipulation.
