Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said he does not intend to escalate tensions with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and wishes to maintain differences without turning them into hostility.

Speaking to journalists in Charsadda on Monday, Fazlur Rehman said he wants to improve political relationships and does not want to respond to the PTI’s bitter behaviour.

“I want to limit differences with PTI to disagreements alone, without allowing bitterness to grow,” he stated.

“I have no intention of responding to PTI’s harsh rhetoric or discourteous behaviour.”

Reaffirming his commitment to the charter of democracy, Fazl said, “We have already agreed to it once, and we still stand by it.”

He also sharply criticised the government, accusing the ruling coalition of acting in bad faith over the madrassa bill, stating that the president has signed the Madrassa Ordinance Act, which is now being extended without proper legislation.

“This exposes the true intentions of the government toward religious seminaries,” he claimed.

Addressing political developments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed frustration with opposition parties pursuing legal challenges for a single reserved seat, specifically referring to PML-N’s case against JUI-F.

“What use is such an opposition whose every step benefits the provincial government?” he asked. “We believe in moderate politics and mutual respect.”

The JUI chief said that if politicians follow the charter of democracy, a better environment can be created.

“I have suggested that there is a need for change in the province. I have talked about bringing about change within the PTI. In the current circumstances, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot afford political conflict,” he added.

Fazlur Rehman also repeated his claim that the current PTI majority in the province is fraudulent, asserting that while the courts may have validated their government, “history will decide whether our stance on stolen mandates was right or wrong.”