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July 17, 2026
Fazl Faces Rebuke over Controversial Remarks about Security Men
Lahore: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has come under fire over his alleged controversial remarks about security personnel, with political leaders demanding an apology and seeking registration of a cybercrime case against him.
During a recent party rally in Punjab’s Kasur, the JUI-F chief spoke about the security and terrorism situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In this context, he reportedly said that although the martyrdom of the soldiers who fell in the line of duty was frequently highlighted, they were also salaried employees assigned to defend the country.
The statement drew rebukes from ministers, mostly from the ruling PML-N, who considered it to be insensitive and diminishing the sacrifices of martyrs.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, while addressing a press conference at the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday, demanded that the JUI-F chief apologize for his remarks concerning the armed forces and martyrs. He said a Senate committee should be constituted to determine whether the veteran politician be formally called to explain his statements.
Also, a sessions court on Wednesday issued a notice to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) on a petition seeking the registration of a case against Maulana Fazl for allegedly making a controversial statement.
Speaker Khan said the JUI-F was an important political party and Maulana Fazl was a senior political leader, but stressed that he strongly disagreed with his stance on terrorism, the armed forces and the sacrifices of security personnel. The speaker said there could be no justification for holding talks with militants who targeted innocent civilians, courts, places of worship and educational institutions.
Referring to previous negotiations with militant groups, he said their outcomes were before the entire nation and should serve as a lesson. He said the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan’s armed forces and martyrs could never be reduced to a discussion about salaries or financial benefits. “Soldiers lay down their lives in defense of the country out of a sense of duty and patriotism. Their medals are their real assets, and it is the responsibility of the entire nation to honor their sacrifices,” he said.
Khan urged Maulana Fazl to withdraw his remarks and apologize to the nation, saying differences of opinion were a democratic right but there could be no compromise on respect for martyrs or matters concerning national security. – Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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