Fazal-ur-Rehman

Who is Fazal-ur-Rehman?

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, is an Pakistani politician, religious cleric who leads the conservative Assembly of Islamic Clergy. Rehman's party is currently part of the Pakistan Muslim League led national coalition. Rehman has served previously as Leader of the Opposition between 2002 till 2007 during which time he was the Secretary General of United Council of Action, the social conservative alliance which was voted to power in the western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan in 2002.

Rehman is the son of Maulana Mufti Mahmud an influential cleric who led the Assembly of Islamic Clergy during the 70s. Rehman rose to national politics in 1988, has been elected to National Assembly on multiple occasions.Rehman and his party remained junior coalition partners of the national government 1988-1990, 1993-1996, 2008–2013 and 2013-Present.

A strong proponent and supporter of leftist Islam, Rehman'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, Rehman 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, Rehman considerably influenced and assisted Benazir Bhutto to help shaping Taliban regime in Afghanistan in 1996.