PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday ruled out the possibility of a no-confidence motion against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, stressing that the province could not afford further political turmoil.

Speaking at a press conference at the party`s provincial headquarters, Maulana Fazl said his party had neither considered nor discussed tabling a no-confidencemotion against the KP government.

However, he said thathe would prefer such a change coming from within the PTI ranks.`We would prefer if the majority of the (provincial) ruling party brings about such a change,` he said.

Maulana Fazl also claimed the PTI`s mandate was illegitimate and the result of ele ctoral rigging.

Regarding seat adjustments for the upcoming Senate elections in KP, the JUI-F leader said the matter was at a very early stage and he would not comment on it yet.

He expressed grave concern over the worsening law and order situation in KP, claiming itwas the worst in the country. He added that Balochistan`s security was also fragile and that Sindh was under `dacoit rule`, while the federal and provincial governments appeared indifferent to the crisis.

Maulana Fazl alleged that the KP government was paying a monthly ransom to militants.

`This government is paying monthly ransom to armed men,` he said, stressing that such practices would only embolden them. `How can the government control militancy when pow-erful figures are encouraging the militants?` He said the JUI-F would never accept the writ of armed groups engaged in `un-Islamic activities`. He said religious scholars from both PakistanandAfghanistan had issued fatwas against such groups, but young people were still taking up arms, while the state had failed to fulfil its duty to protect citizens.

`When the issue relates to the state itself, it responds. But when it comes to the people, the government becomes a mere spectator, he said, insisting that the public had lost confidence in the authorities.

Maulana Fazl also condemned the killing of ANP leader Maulana Khanzeb in Bajaur earlier this week, saying that several areas of KP were witnessing such incidents.

He recalled that during the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal`s rule in the province, there was peace. `Today, no one is safe in KP,` he added.

He said the JUI-F would be willing to participate in or even arrange a multiparty conference if the opposition parties decided to raise the law and order issue jointly.

He also criticised the merger of the former Fata with KP and questioned under whose pressure the decision wasmade. He said the merger was a mistake that needed to be acknowledged.

The political leadership demonstrated short-sightedness by agreeing to the Fata merger, he said, adding that revenue records in the merged districts were non-existent and revenue staff had been unable to visit the area for the past eight years.

Referring to the federal government`s committee on restoring the jirga system in merged areas, Mr Rehman questioned the representation of Pakhtuns in the committee.

He said the government had asked the JUI-F to nominate a member and that the party`s tribal jirga would meet on Sunday (today) to discuss the matter. However, he added, they were considering nominating someone from among the tribes instead of a JUI-F representative.