• Kh Asif says Tehran talks related to regional diplomacy, not defence agreement
• Questions Maulana’s political record, accuses him of exploiting religion for financial gain
• Naqvi says he has ‘lost respect for Fazl’
• JUI-F rejects criticism, accuses govt of ‘relying on military’
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday launched scathing attacks on JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, accusing him of exploiting religion for political and financial gains after his criticism of the government in the National Assembly a day earlier.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Mr Asif rejected Maulana Fazl’s criticism of his absence from recent talks in Tehran, stressing that the meeting was aimed at promoting regional peace rather than negotiating a defence agreement.
He said the visit by army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was part of diplomatic efforts to bring rival countries to the negotiating table, using Pakistan’s goodwill in the region.
The defence minister explained that his participation was unnecessary because the discussions did not concern any agreement falling under the Ministry of Defence. Describing the talks as negotiations over a defence pact was a misrepresentation of the facts, he maintained.
Mr Asif then turned to Maulana Fazl’s political record, recalling that the JUI-F chief had held positions of influence under successive governments and served as chairman of the National Assembly’s Kashmir Committee for about a decade.
He questioned what tangible achievements Maulana Fazl could claim for the Kashmir cause during his tenure.
Acknowledging his own past political mistakes, Mr Asif said he had publicly apologised for his previous positions and was frequently reminded of his earlier speeches whenever he discussed the country’s hybrid political system. However, he insisted that political accountability should apply equally to everyone.
The defence minister also accused the JUI-F of using religion for political and financial benefits. He also questioned why the PTI had aligned itself with the Maulana, saying that while the PTI was a political party, he could not understand why it had made the JUI-F chief its patron.
The remarks triggered protests from JUI-F lawmakers, particularly Aliya Kamran, who pointed out a lack of quorum in the house. As the counting began, PTI and JUI-F members left the chamber. However, Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Murtaza Shah declared that the required number of members was present, allowing Mr Asif to resume his speech.
Amid continued protests, the defence minister accused Maulana Fazl of hiding behind female lawmakers. He slammed Maulana over his stance regarding imposition of governor’s rule in KP and said that the JUI-F chief belonged to a family which opposed the creation of Pakistan and now they were supporting the Afghans who were threatening the security of Pakistan.
Naqvi joins criticism
Meanwhile, speaking in the Senate, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said he had lost respect for Maulana Fazl following his remarks about the state during Wednesday’s National Assembly proceedings.
“I personally had heartfelt respect for Maulana Fazlur Rehman, but yesterday when he said, ‘I spit on the state’, that respect ended,” Mr Naqvi said.
Clarifying his own participation in the Tehran talks, the minister said he had travelled to Iran on a special assignment given by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “It was not a defence deal. I went in connection with the current crisis on a special task given by the prime minister. I have no fondness for going abroad,” he said.
He accused Maulana Fazl of adopting political positions according to whether his party enjoyed a share in government. “If they get a share in government, everything is fine. If they have no role in government, they start opposing,” he alleged. He further accused the JUI-F of using religion for political and financial gains and claimed that some of those now opposing governor’s rule in KP had previously sought the removal of the provincial government. His remarks sparked an uproar on the opposition benches and lawmakers raised slogans against him.
JUI-F parliamentary leader Senator Kamran Murtaza objected to the minister’s language, saying he should not use the house to pursue a personal agenda. “If you want to speak on a personal agenda, hold a press conference,” he said.
Mr Naqvi retorted that a personal agenda had been pursued in the National Assembly the previous day.
Presiding Officer Shahadat Awan intervened, observing that the interior minister, as a member of the house, had the right to speak. He also ordered objectionable words expunged from the proceedings.
In the NA, PML-N lawmaker Hanif Abbasi also criticised Maulana Fazl and opposition leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, accusing them of sympathising with anti-state elements. Responding to the criticism, JUI-F leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri accused the government of relying on military backing rather than strengthening democratic institutions.
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2026
