Name: Fazal-ur-Rehman
Nationality: Pakistani
Born City: Abdul Khel, NWFP, Pakistan
Birth Day : 19 June 1953 (age 68)
Religion: Islam
Profession : Politician
Party: Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam
Other political affiliations: Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) (2002–2008)
Children: Asad Mehmood
Parent(s): Mufti Mahmud (father)
Who is Fazal-ur-Rehman?
Background and Early Life:
- Fazlur Rehman, a Pakistani Deobandi politician and Islamic fundamentalist, was born on June 19, 1953 (according to another report, September 1) in Abul Kheel village, D.I. Khan, into a religious and politically active family.
- He received his early education from Millat High School in Multan, studying under Mussarat Baig and Syed Iqbal Shah. Rehman obtained a Bachelor’s degree (B.A) in 1983 from the University of Peshawar and later completed his Master’s degree at Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
Political Career:
- Rehman embarked on his political journey at the age of 27 when he assumed the role of Secretary General of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in 1980, following the death of his father, Mufti Mahmud, who previously led the party.
- He served as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) from 1988 until May 2018, during which he held the position of Leader of the Opposition from 2004 to 2007. Rehman actively participated in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) against the government of Zia-ul-Haq.
- After experiencing defeat in the 2018 Pakistani general election and failing to garner significant political support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rehman was ousted from the National Assembly. His party secured only 10 out of 99 seats in his home constituency.
- Alleging electoral fraud, Rehman became actively involved in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a coalition of opposition parties formed to challenge the ruling administration of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
- In 2020, Fazlur Rehman was unanimously elected as the leader of the coalition of political parties against the PTI government, forming the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM). Nawaz Sharif expressed support for Rehman’s leadership and even advocated for his appointment on a permanent basis. However, this proposition faced opposition from other members within the coalition.
( Last Updated: 8 March 2024)