He says political parties may not agree with governments and institutions, but they must avoid comments that hurt the families of martyrs.
Sindh Chief Minister Sharjeel Memon speaking at a press conference in Karachi. SCREEN CAPTURE
KARACHI:
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday urged Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to withdraw his recent comments on Pakistan’s armed forces and martyrs, saying the statement had caused pain to the families of fallen soldiers and sent a wrong message at a time when the country should remain united.
The comments were made by the JUI-F chief during a recent public meeting, where his comments on the country’s armed forces and martyrs drew strong criticism from political leaders and other quarters.
At a news conference in Karachi, Memon said he respected the veteran politician but believed he should reconsider his comments. “My request to Maulana Fazlur Rehman is to withdraw his statement,” he said, adding, “Withdrawing his words does not diminish his stature; rather, it enhances it. We are all human and can make mistakes.”
He said the rank of martyrs remained unchanged regardless of political statements, but argued that such comments could dishearten the families of those who had sacrificed their lives for the country.
Read more: Fazl in trouble as pleas reach Punjab courts over comments on martyrs
Memon said Indian media had amplified the comments and questioned who would benefit from such statements. Referring to the recent conflict with India, he praised Pakistan’s armed forces and said that the army, air force and navy had successfully defended the country.
“When Pakistan and India were in conflict, the entire nation stood united,” he said, adding, “Politics will continue, but on issues related to the country and its martyrs, we must remain united.”
Memon further said that political parties were free to disagree with state institutions and governments, pointing out the PPP’s opposition to the governments of General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf. “We opposed those governments and spoke openly against them, but we never spoke against the institution or against the martyrs,” he said.
Recalling Bilawal’s response to an Indian journalist at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Memon said Bilawal had refused to criticize Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Imran Khan while he was abroad despite political differences. “There should be maturity in the way we present Pakistan internationally,” he said.
Memon also said Pakistan’s security forces continued to face threats from terrorist groups, adding that the country remained secure thanks to its armed forces, strategic capabilities and national unity. “Let us put aside political divisions. Whether it is PPP, MQM, PTI or Jamaat-e-Islami, politics will continue but we are one nation,” he said.
Also read: PA Spokesperson Demands Apology from JUI-F Head for Comments on Martyrs
Speaking earlier on wheat prices, Memon said the Sindh government’s anti-hoarding drive had recovered 1.7 million tonnes of wheat from illegal stockpiles. He accused hoarders of creating artificial shortages after what he described as a bumper wheat harvest in Sindh.
“The government will not allow wheat prices to increase under any circumstances,” he said, adding that the recovered wheat will be purchased at the government’s official price and not at the prevailing market prices.
He added that authorities had taken a “lenient approach” to ensure people did not suffer losses, making it clear that illegal hoarding would not be tolerated.
According to Memon, the crackdown had already reduced flour prices by 13 rupees per kilogram, and urged those with illegally stored wheat to hand it over to government warehouses or sell it to flour mills.
On law and order, Memon said the police had arrested three suspects in the murder of Dr Akash Kumar, adding that weapons, a car and two motorcycles had been recovered during the investigation. He said efforts were underway to arrest the remaining suspects.
Replying to a question on water shortage, Memon said the Sindh government had repeatedly written to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal government, demanding that the province receive its share of water as per the Water Sharing Agreement of 1991. He added that Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had also taken up the issue with the Prime Minister.
He also urged political parties not to exploit national institutions to score political points. He said those making statements against the unity of Sindh were seeking confrontation rather than solutions. “Those who speak against the unity of the province want conflict,” he said. “They want us to take measures that will breathe life into their dead policy.”
Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s comments have sparked a growing political backlash, with senior government leaders accusing the JUI-F chief of belittling the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces. Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan publicly condemned the comments and demanded that Fazlur Rehman apologize to the nation, saying that no one should be allowed to undermine the sacrifices of the country’s martyrs.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif described the remarks as “morally callous”, saying the soldiers did not give their lives simply for a salary but continued to fight terrorism at the cost of their own lives. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the sacrifices of the country’s martyrs were beyond political debate, while Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said reducing their sacrifice to financial compensation “was neither fair nor in accordance with Islamic ethics or teachings.” Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Aun Chaudhry also urged the JUI-F chief to withdraw his comments and apologise.
Meanwhile, petitions to initiate criminal proceedings against Fazlur Rehman have been filed in district courts across Punjab, with courts in Lahore and other districts seeking responses from relevant authorities on the matter.
