Several federal ministers have strongly criticised recent remarks by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman regarding Pakistan’s armed forces.
The response came after Maulana Fazlur Rehman addressed a public gathering in Kasur, Punjab, where he spoke about the security challenges and militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. During his speech, he commented on the role of the armed forces, saying that soldiers are employed and paid to perform the duty of defending the country.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said linking the sacrifice of soldiers to their salaries was unfair and disrespectful to the martyrs and their families.
He said no one gives their life solely for financial compensation, adding that such sacrifices are driven by duty, belief, commitment and love for the country. While acknowledging that people may disagree over policies or events, he said the sacrifices of those who have laid down their lives should not be undermined.
Khawaja Asif also said Pakistan continued to face the challenge of terrorism, with members of the armed forces, other institutions and civilians continuing to lose their lives. He described diminishing those sacrifices to a matter of salary as morally insensitive rather than legitimate political criticism.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Inter-Provincial Coordination and Political Affairs, Senator Rana Sanaullah, paid tribute to military martyrs in a post on X without directly naming Fazlur Rehman.
He wrote that martyrdom is a believer’s highest aspiration and said its significance cannot be understood in purely worldly or financial terms. He also prayed for the families of the fallen and for injured servicemen, describing steadfast faith as the foundation of the country’s freedom and survival.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also responded on X, saying that describing the sacrifices of soldiers as merely part of their paid duties was unjust and inconsistent with both moral values and Islamic teachings. Addressing Fazlur Rehman directly, he said the remarks had hurt the sentiments of millions of Pakistanis and stressed that military personnel risk their lives every day in defence of the country.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi also criticised the remarks, saying the sacrifices of military martyrs are a source of national pride and that the nation will always remember the contributions of its security forces and the families of those who lost their lives in the service of the country.
Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry described the armed forces as a symbol of Pakistan’s dignity, security and survival, saying the country’s peace and freedom were made possible through the sacrifices of soldiers serving on borders and in counterterrorism operations.
