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Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman ( مولانا فضل الرحمٰن , b. 19 June 19, 1953), is an influential politician, powerful cleric, and the Secretary-General of the JUI(F).^[1] A strong proponent and supporter of leftist Islam, Rahman's role in the government of left-oriented PPP grew since 1996, and asserted his influential role in regional policy relating the Jammu Kashmir and Afghanistan. Rose to national politics in 1988, Rahman notably gathered his support and much publicized Benazir Bhutto's political campaign in 1993 general elections. After supporting Benazir Bhutto as becoming the Prime Minister, Rahman considerably influenced and assisted Benazir Bhutto to help shaping Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 1996.

After Benazir Bhutto departed from Pakistan 1998, Rahman continued to run Bhutto's legacy after accepting the appointment as an interim Leader of the Opposition until 1999. After the 2002 elections, Rahman took the office of Leader of the Opposition where he worked with Benazir Bhutto to oppose President Pervez Musharraf and Prime minister Shaukat Aziz. After successfully contesting in 2008 general elections, Rahman later deepened his role in a left-wing alliance led by PPP and provided an integral support to Yousaf Raza Gillani to form the government.^[2]

Biography [edit]

Early life and education [edit]

Fazal-ul-Rahman was born in Abdulkhel, D.I. Khan District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, on 19 June 1953.^[3] Rahman hails from an influential political family, his father Mufti Mahmud was a local clerical leader and had a strong vote bank in the Dera Ismail Khan.^[3] Rahman studied at the local Madrassa, a religious seminary, in DI Khan.^[3] Later, Rahman was accepted at the University of Peshawar where he studied Islamic studies, earning B.A. degree in Islamic studies in 1983.^[4] Rahman went to Cairo, Egypt, after being accepted at the Al-Azhar University.^[5] Unlike many of his colleagues who have only received degrees from madrassas, Rahman is a "refined product" of Al-Azhar University and studied and researched in religious Theology there, under reputed religious and divinity research scholars.^[5] In 1987, Rehman completed and published his master's thesis on political aspects of Islam and was awarded M.A in Religious studies from the Al-Azhar University.^[6] Upon returning to Pakistan, he participated in 1988 general elections for state parliament.^[6]

Career in the National politics [edit]

After returning to Pakistan, Rahman participated in 1988 general elections on a platform religious platform from a JUI(F) ticket. It was during this time period, Rahman built relations with Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and got acquainted with Prime Minister Benazir after she ordered an armed action in Jalalabad of Communist Afghanistan.^[7] Rahman is a fundamentalist with a difference, known for his proximity to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and had been under her political science circles as early as 1989.^[7] Although, a fundamentalism, he remained in the camp of the political alliances and parties led by Benazir Bhutto that were opposed to conservative leader, Nawaz Sharif and the Pakistan Muslim League.^[8] Only did he contest the election in alliance with the PML, in 1990 general elections, and then too he lost.^[8]

Involvement in Benazir Bhutto's government [edit]

After losing the 1990 general elections, Rahman frequently began to meet Benazir Bhutto at the PIDE in opposition to Prime Minister Navaz Sharif.^[9] Despite his fundamentalist orientation, Rahman publicly campaigned for Benazir Bhutto and with full vigor, supported her right to become the Prime Minister while keenly opposing the media campaign of the JeI in the 1993 against a woman heading the government of an Islamic republic.^[9] Rahman defused the criticism from the right-wing circles and fully endorsed Benazir Bhutto's campaign in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province.^[9]

After securing the plurality in the state parliament after the 1993 general elections, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto duly rewarded Rahman by approving his appointment as the chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.^[9] As chairman, he became key delegation member of Benazir Bhutto's staff, and became fond of foreign travels taking with Benazir Bhutto. He frequently visited United States, Western world, China, and Japan as part of state visits of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.^[9] In media, it was reported that Rahman spent more time abroad than in Pakistan. On a repeated state visit of Benazir Bhutto, Rahman frequently met with Clinton administration staffers and senior officials of the US State Department.^[9] His visit to India, he was most diplomatic in his statements and proved himself as worthy unofficial representatives of the country.^[9]

On common press meetings, he was known to be much closer to Benazir Bhutto than anyone else, and often remarked as "gray beard and wearing a yellow turban, a powerful man."^[9] His efforts were paid and gained much influence on Benazir Bhutto afterwards.^[9] On numerous occasions, Rehman had mentored Bhutto on religious public policy matters while continued traveling with Benazir Bhutto as part of her foreign delegations.^[9] Spurred on by Rahman, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had signed the promotion papers and a personal appointment of then-Lieutenant-General Pervez Musharraf (tenuring as director of the Directorate-General of Military Operations (DGMO) in her key staff.^[10] She also gave green signal to General Musharraf to dispatch thousands of religious fanatics and students at the clerical schools to Jammu Kashmir of India.^[10]

Taliban, Northern Alliance, and Afghan war subsidiary [edit]

The close relations with Prime minister Benazir Bhutto and chairmanship of committee for foreign relations at the state parliament enabled Rahman to influence on Prime minister Benazir's geostrategy in Afghanistan.^[11][12] Rahman more frequently and repeatedly visited Washington, D.C. to meet with President Bill Clinton and Brussels to meet with European Union politicians to secure the lobby for the support of Taliban.^[12] In 1995, he reportedly organized a hunting trips for rich Arab princes in Kandahar and created a first initial contacts with Arab rulers of Saudi Arabia and Taliban.^[12] In 1996, his frequent visits to Saudi Arabia and UAE later enlisted their financial and military support for the Taliban in their war against the communist Northern Alliance.^[12]

Furthermore, it was Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who legitimize the JUI(F) and endorsed Rahman in the national politics, who had no particular political role in the country. Her government, in close coordination with Rahman, are widely held responsible for installing Taliban in Afghanistan.^[13] Regarded an intelligence landmark and momentous achievement for the idea of Strategic depth", an idea coined and pioneered by NDU professor General Mirza Aslam Beg, it was later founded and became a historical fact that it was Benazir, a Western-educated woman, who set in motion the events leading to 9/11 incident in the United States.^[13]

Official visit to India [edit]

In 2003, Rahman made an intriguing and significant state visit to India after the 2002 general elections.^[14] At that time, he was the leader of the MMA, a massive alliance of far-right parties opposing President Pervez Musharraf.^[14] A perception of supporting Taliban in Afghanistan about Rahman was already well known and well established in New Delhi, India.^[14] In an attempt to normalize foreign relations between two countries, Rahman made many public statements and declarations regarding the issue of Jammu Kashmir.^[14] Indian Prime Minister Atal Vaypayee met him in his official residence, and officiated a state dinner for him.^[14]

Addressing the Indian media, Rahman termed Kashmir as "territorial problem" rather than "religious issue".^[14] In New Delhi, he also held a secret meeting with leadership of RSS, telling the RSS leadership that the trade and economic should be used to build confidence between two countries.^[14] Before being departure from India, Rahman condemned the Kashmiri militants for laying terrorist attacks against the civilians and state machinery.^[14] Observers viewed his visit to India sd most diplomatic in his statements and proved that Pakistan's elite politicians, even if they are in the opposition, could conduct themselves as worthy unofficial representatives of the country.^[9]

2008 general elections and Gillani's government [edit]

During the election campaign for 2008 general elections, he once again endorsed Benazir Bhutto, and played an integrand role in supporting Yousaf Raza Gillani's government in 2008.^[13] In a massive left-wing alliance containing MQM, ANP, PMLQ, his role and his party became an integral core of forming the government.^[15] A tactical support to Gillani was made after endorsing Gillani's call to remove President Pervez Musharaf in 2009.^[15] Ultimately, he was endorsed and appointed for a chairmanship of Kashmir committee at the state parliament in his recognition of supporting the Asif Ali Zardari's bid for presidency.^[15] He held a complete status of portfolio of federal minister in the government.^[15]

Public status and image [edit]

Wikileaks: US visit and political support [edit]

Generally, a fundamentalist who holds strong Anti-American sentiment in the country, Rahman has been criticized for shifting towards leftist sphere.^[16] The Wikileaks secret cables exposed Rahman when he cordially invited US Ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson, to a state dinner in Islamabad in which he sought her support in becoming prime minister and expressed a desire to visit America.

According to Rehman's personal aide, "All important parties in Pakistan had to get the approval" of the U.S. Referring to Rehman, Patterson mentioned "He has made it clear that....his still significant number of votes are up for sale".^[16] The cables also highlighted the contradictions of other prominent figures. Amin Fahim, a Bhutto follower hoping to run for Prime Minister, led an Islamic religious party "while enjoying an occasional bloody mary".^[16]

Criticism from right-wing circles [edit]

The right-wing sphere's has given a strong criticism to Rahman for shifting his politics to left-wing circles.^[17] The right-wing parties charged Rahman for building his public image by supporting Benazir Bhutto during her second term as the prime minister.^[17] Critics of Rahman maintained that his close relations and links with leftist PPP has diminished temporarily his party's image of an anti-secular and religio-political entity.^[17]

The right-wing critics regarded Rahman as "an opportunist posing as an Islamic leader", giving him with the name "Maulana Diesel" in the past government of Benazir Bhutto.^[17] The right-wing populist party, PTI, and sportsman-turned politician Imran Khan dubs Fazal-ur-Rehman as "liar and hypocrite." ^[18]

See also [edit]

• Afghanistan civil war
• September 11 attacks

Notes and references [edit]

See also [edit]

• Profile: Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman
• Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman
• on www.elections.com.pk
• Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
• Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (Assembly of Pakistan 'Ulama)