Engineer Zia-ur-Rehman, younger brother of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has formally accepted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s challenge to contest an election in Dera Ismail Khan. The bold response came in a fiery video message, where Zia dismissed Gandapur as “unworthy” of facing Fazl directly, instead daring the CM to field his own brother against him.
The clash stems from Gandapur’s press conference in Lahore, where he challenged Fazl to an electoral face-off, vowing to quit politics if defeated—but demanding the same from the JUI-F leader. Zia retaliated by mocking Gandapur’s political legitimacy, even questioning his family lineage: “Gandapurs are honorable, but he isn’t one of them.” He also referenced past claims that a DNA test would “expose” Gandapur’s background.
Zia framed the challenge as a battle to “free KP from a corrupt regime,” claiming Gandapur’s outbursts signal his “impending ouster.” Meanwhile, Fazlur Rehman, speaking separately, suggested political change in KP must come from within PTI, warning against further instability.