A Gujranwala court has issued notices to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the Civil Lines SHO over a petition seeking the registration of an FIR against him. The case relates to a speech concerning Pakistan’s armed forces that sparked political criticism. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July 28 and directed police to submit a report.
The petition was filed by Advocate Manzoor Qadir Bhinder, who requested legal action over what he described as controversial remarks made by the JUI-F leader. Additional Sessions Judge Faisal Jameel issued notices to both the police and Fazlur Rehman, seeking their responses before the next hearing. The court also instructed the investigating authorities to present their findings on the scheduled date.
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The petition argues that the speech warrants the registration of a criminal case. However, the court has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations and will consider the matter after receiving the police report and responses from the parties involved. The proceedings remain at a preliminary stage.
The remarks have drawn criticism from several political and religious figures. Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi condemned the statement and apologized to the families of martyrs, saying such comments were unacceptable. He stressed that the sacrifices made by security personnel should be respected.
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Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, MQM-Pakistan chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and the PTI chairman also criticized Fazlur Rehman’s remarks. They said linking the sacrifices of martyrs to salaries was inappropriate and unfair to the families of those who lost their lives in service to the country.