Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan addresses the house. Photo: APP/file
Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Wednesday asked Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to apologize to the nation for his comments on the martyrs, saying no one would be allowed to undermine the sacrifices made by the armed forces.
Addressing a press conference in the Punjab Assembly, the provincial assembly speaker rebuked the JUI-F chief, saying such remarks were not only inappropriate but also detrimental to national unity.
“Terrorism cannot be addressed through negotiations.”
Questioning the logic behind Fazl’s comments, Khan asked: “How can the state engage in dialogue with terrorists who continue to carry out attacks?”
Read: Fazl’s comment draws the ire of ministers
He said there was broad public consensus that terrorist organizations could not be treated as political actors.
Khan stated that the organizations involved in attacks on mosques, imambargahs, courts, police stations and civilians, although refusing to recognize the constitution and mandates of the State, cannot sit at the dialogue table.
Referring to the May 25 train attack near Chaman Phatak in Balochistan that claimed the lives of several civilians and Frontier Corps personnel, he said evidence suggested the involvement of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav was also before the nation.
Khan asked whether the military should negotiate with such terrorist groups or confront them militarily.
“Dialogue had occurred in the past when the other side had shown willingness for a political solution, but he added that the situation was different when a handful of people tried to hold the entire country hostage through terrorism.”
The speaker also criticized Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for its uneven interpretation of the political role of the military, adding that they welcomed intervention based on political expediency.
Read more: ATC sentences 47 PTI leaders to 10 years in May 9 headquarters attack case
Khan objected to the violence by PTI fanatics against military institutions on May 9, 2023, alleging that they attacked the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and the Corps Commander’s House (Jinnah House) in Lahore following the arrest of the party founder.
Speaking on international relations, Khan said the current regional tensions, including the Iran-Israel conflict and its broader implications, had created challenges for countries around the world.
He highlighted that the international community recognized the diplomatic victories of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, alleging that Fazl seemed resentful of those developments.
Mocking the JUI-F chief’s political history, Khan said Fazl had supported former President Pervez Musharraf while he retained his military post.
“I had voted in favor of a [military] uniformed president.”
Also read: Asif rebukes Fazl for comments on soldiers’ sacrifices
He said the JUI-F chief had also served in the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government during the Musharraf era.
The speaker accused Fazl of political hypocrisy and said his approach to the military changed depending on whether he was elected to the treasury or opposition seats.
Khan suggested that the JUI-F should have asked the military to cease political intervention when his party was “in power”.
Returning to Fazl’s comment that soldiers served the country only for salaries, Khan criticized the politician for disrespecting and belittling the sacrifices of the armed forces and security personnel.
He assured that the country’s military would continue to confront militant groups rather than allowing “terrorists to gain ground.”
