A court in Gujranwala has summoned Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in connection with a petition challenging his recent remarks about Pakistan’s security institutions.
Additional Sessions Judge Faisal Jamil directed the JUI-F leader to appear before the court on July 28. The summons follows a petition filed by senior lawyer Manzoor Qadir, who objected to statements made by Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a public gathering in Kasur earlier this month.
The case has attracted political attention after the remarks sparked criticism from government leaders and prompted calls for legal action.
Petition Filed After Kasur Public Gathering
The petition relates to a speech delivered by Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a public event in Kasur.
During his address, the JUI-F chief expressed concerns about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
He claimed that the state had lost control in parts of Balochistan and said that Pashtun areas were “drenched in blood”, referring to recent violence and casualties.
His comments became the focus of the legal petition now before the court.
Remarks on Civilian Role in Security
During the same speech, Maulana Fazlur Rehman questioned the idea of civilians taking up arms against militant groups.
He said:
“Why are you asking civilians to take up arms? I have never received a salary for that, so I will not raise a private force.”
The statement generated debate over the role of civilians in addressing security challenges.
Comments on Security Personnel and Politics
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also commented on the sacrifices made by members of the security forces.
He said that while the martyrdom of security personnel receives public recognition, they perform their duties in uniform as part of their official responsibilities.
The JUI-F chief also criticized the alleged involvement of the military in politics.
He stated:
“If you want to do politics, then take off the uniform and contest elections. Then it will become clear how many votes people give to those in uniform.”
He further argued that political decisions should be determined through public votes rather than unelected institutions.
Government Leaders Condemn the Remarks
The statements drew strong criticism from several federal ministers.
Among those who publicly condemned the remarks were Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, and Attaullah Tarar.
They described the comments as disrespectful toward the country’s martyrs and their families.
Government leaders maintained that members of the armed forces make sacrifices out of patriotism and national duty rather than simply because of their employment.
Political Reaction Widens
The controversy expanded beyond the initial political response.
Lawmakers from different parts of the country also criticized the JUI-F chief’s statements.
In the Punjab Assembly, the Utsav Pakistan Party presented a resolution describing Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s remarks as “provocative” and “against the national interest.”
The resolution stated that criticism of national security institutions was regrettable and argued that such statements could benefit hostile forces.
It also called for legal action against individuals accused of damaging the prestige of state institutions.
Court Hearing Scheduled for July 28
Following the petition, Additional Sessions Judge Faisal Jamil formally summoned Maulana Fazlur Rehman to appear before the court on July 28.
The upcoming hearing will allow the court to examine the petition and related arguments.
The case has become the latest development in a controversy that has generated significant political debate over public statements concerning national security institutions and their role in Pakistan.
