Sanaullah criticises Fazl, Munawar over calling Hakimullah martyr

E-Paper | April 30, 2026

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that JUI-F chief Fazalur Rehman and JI chief Munawar Hasan should not have created controversy by bestowing the title of ‘martyr’ to a terrorist, DawnNews reported.

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Sanaullah criticised the chiefs of Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam – Fazl, saying religious leaders should refrain from issuing such controversial statements.

The provincial law minister also criticised Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and said despite being 62 years of age, the latter was making irresponsible calls.

Rehman, Hasan and Khan are proponents of talks with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the JUI-F chief has also called out to members of the banned group saying they should not allow derailment of the peace process in the wake of Hakimullah Mehsud’s killing. Moreover, chiefs of PTI and JI have called for the blocking of Nato supply going through Pakistan to foreign troops in Afghanistan in the wake of the latest drone attack inside Pakistani territory in which the TTP chief was killed.

Responding to a question, Sanaullah said Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif had never appealed to the Taliban to not attack Punjab, adding that political opponents should not distort the statements of PML-N leaders for their own advantage.

Speaking out on Saturday’s Gujranwala firing incident in which two imambargahs were attacked, the provincial law minister said the incident was sectarian in nature as opposed to an act of terrorism.

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sabeeh omer

Nov 09, 2013 05:09pm

Has Allah Subhan wa Talla given Fazalur Rehman and Munawar hasan authority to issue verdicts on who is SHAHEED and who is not? With the blood of countless innocent Muslims and non-Muslims on his hand how can Hakimullah Mehsud be labelled a "martyr?" Both the maulanas need to study the doctrine of "shahadat" in detail as it pertains to the true injunctions of Islam. They should avoid making comments on every issue just to remain in the limelight.

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Usman

Nov 09, 2013 09:03pm

We can expect this statement from Molana Fazal ur Rehman but not from Munawar Hasan. Disappointing statement from Munawar Hasan. I don't understand why we are not leaving on Allah whether he is Shaheed or not.

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Manoj

Nov 09, 2013 09:54pm

@sabeeh omer: If only more people thought like you.. May Allah bless you...

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pathanoo

Nov 09, 2013 10:44pm

@sabeeh omer: Sabir, They know what Shadat is but they don't care. these two quisilings are only interested in power.

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AB Uzair

Nov 09, 2013 10:58pm

Well, Munawwar Hasan and Fazal-ur-Rahman are the heads of their respective 'political' parties. They are not religious leaders. They made a political statement for their own political advantages. They don't seem to have even rudimentary knowledge of religion. If a 'shaheed' has any obligation towards others, he will be asked about it, even if its a small debt. Some one who has claimed killing hundreds and wants to kill more, will get the rewards of a 'shaheed'? Silly.

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marghoobahmedsiddiqui

Nov 09, 2013 11:24pm

NMunawar of Jamat-e-Islami and Maulana Fazal have proved that they are not in knowledge of any thing about Islam. Calling a killer of thousand innocent men, women and children as SHAHEED is, in my opinion insult of this word Shaheed. Shame fopr them.

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marghoobahmedsiddiqui

Nov 09, 2013 11:26pm

@sabeeh omer: They must ask forgiveness from GOD for making fun of this sacred word SHAHEED and must be condemned by every true Muslim.

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Raza

Nov 10, 2013 01:51am

"incident was sectarian in nature as opposed to an act of terrorism. " What a joker of a man? So if an innocent person is killed in a sectarian attack, that is not an act of terror?

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Shahida Khan

Nov 10, 2013 02:12am

"Speaking out on Saturday

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Nov 10, 2013 03:26am

Urgent need for a couple of more drone strikes........

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SaeedS

Nov 10, 2013 03:30am

Sabheer Omar No one ask to study doctrine of shahadat,when Mujahdeen called martyr , even though they were killing afghan Muslim during afghan jihad.

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Saif

Nov 10, 2013 05:45am

It's amazing that murderers and terrorist are labelled as Shaeeds. It's shame on all of us that we don't have the courage to stand against the injustices done in the name of religion. In order to save their own skin these guys will always be on side of terrorist. God forbid, if they loose their love ones at hands of terrorist, will they be willing to call these muderers Shaeed?

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SGN

Nov 10, 2013 06:33am

Wow. Sanaullah has just proved himself to continue to remain the bigot that he showed he was during the election campaign. Calling something "controversial" is admitting that there are two legitimate sides to the issue. All he is asking the two stalwart mullahs to do is to not say what they believe, while at the same time is admitting that what they believe could be legitimate. Sounds to me like he agrees with the stalwart mullahs.

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saima

Nov 10, 2013 06:50am

Here the two so called supreme Mullahs are saying, the murderers are martyr? Then what about the victims??? Does this mean that the murderers and the victims will both go to Paradise???? I heard Maulana Fazal-ur Rehman saying on air that even if a dog is killed by the Americans, he will call the dog, a martyr. Since, Hakimullah is not a dog fortunately, he is not a martyr. Therefore the Islamic council for once should do a favor on the Muslim Ummah, by banning these two supremos to pass any Fatwah, as these types of statements are tarnishing the beliefs of Islam. For once, I am proud of Rana Sanaullah for giving such a bold statement.

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Ali

Nov 11, 2013 12:00pm

@SH: Urgent need for a couple of more drone strikes -------------- let me complete the sentence, to get rid of these two so called mullahs.

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