By Afshain Afzal
Plans are been hatched against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam top leadership including Maulana Fazlur Rehman to drag him in treason case and is also being pressurized to render public apology for his statement. Meanwhile cases against Maulana Fazlur Rehman have been registered in the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Gujranwala and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, Lahore. Punjab Assembly has condemned Maulana’s remarks and is trying to take legal action over against him. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is facing criticism from the government, political leaders and journalists and others. The question arises whether those anti-Islam powers will be successful by criminalizing him before Additional Sessions Judge, Gujranwala and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency or not?
Let us find out whether Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman is guilty or not? While addressing “Protection of Madaris wa Deeniya wa Awami Haqooq Conference” at Kasur on 11 July 2026, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam's Chief, Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman revealed before a very large gathering that the Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff instructed him to raise an armed Lashkar (private Army) to control law and order situation in the country. Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman instead of keeping it secret made it public that he has neither received any money or salary nor would raise any armed Lashkar (private Army) as it is the responsibility of Army for which they are given salary. Since ISPR, other military authorities and the Army Chief himself did not challenge the Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman’s statement so what was revealed can be considered authentic.
In fact, through his statement, Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman made Army realize that it is the responsibility of State Army to defend the country's sovereignty and sacrifice their lives which is not any kind of favour but they are paid for this. No doubt, the choice of words may have injured the sentiments of many but to make our military realize their role, responsibilities and duties it was important rather than pushing the country into chaos by ordering an unconstitutional approach of armed private armies all around the country which is too dangerous to even imagine.
We must comprehend that what Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman claimed that he has been tasked it is an unlawful command and should never be acted upon. The Article 256 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan expressly forbids the raising of private armies, declaring it is illegal to form or maintain any private organization capable of functioning as a military organization. Further, it is very encouraging to learn that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam has neither any armed wing nor it intend engaging in any such act. It is important to have verbatim English translation of what worthy Moulana Fazal Ur Rehman exactly said to have a fair idea that he did not criticized Shaeeds nor spoke against the Army rather he save Pakistan by not considering unconstitutional and unlawful command.
In his speech, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman cautioned Army they has a responsibility and must keep an eye on it as the country is moving towards disaster… He emphasized, “Listen to what I am saying, listen by opening the ears of your hearts, these are facts and I am not showing my expertise on the stage. In Balochistan; in Baloch areas there were revolts, whole Baloch areas were outside the writ of Pakistan and even today there is no writ of Pakistan government there. But we were mourning over the Baloch areas and now even Pashtun is undergoing blood bath. In Pashtun areas in just two or three days we received more than 50 dead bodies. We have done only one thing in our markets that we could purchase coffins for our love ones. We did only one thing that we could offer Namaz-e-Janazas of our love ones. Is this written in the fate of people of Pakistan that we have to spend time by sacrificing our blood?
He said, “Neither my son can go out to study in the school nor poor laborer of my province can go out of his house to get laborer job. And if he goes out of his house he does not consider himself safe. Then they say our Jawans (soldiers) are also embracing Shadhat, Baba (Mr) your Jawans have put on their uniform belts, they are getting their pays that they have to fight for the sovereignty of the country. What favour of your blood you are making us realizing me. You are getting salary for the same purpose out of my taxes on hard-earned blood and sweat earnings. But I am been asked to establish armed Lashkars (private Army) and fight the insurgents groups. I have not received any salary for the purpose; I will not raise any armed Lashkar I will not fight against insurgents. You will vacate (retire from the post of Army Chief) and you will push my country's future generations to personal enmity. You are pushing towards bloodshed.”
Apparently it is a minor incident but as events will gain momentum things will go out of control and the country will play with blood and fire which would have international repercussions. Many Police Stations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa restive province have staged complete boycott and though present on duty at their respective police stations but refuse to go in the field to perform duties. They claim that it is not the insurgents but someone else who carryout their mass killings. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir which was always peaceful is experiencing strikes, protests and arrests due to intentional provoking actions like arrest of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir on 30 June 2026. Moulana Fazal ur Rehman is playing positive role bring peace everywhere but he is being prevented. It is high time that UNO, International Organizations and human rights organizations must intervene and pressurize authorities in Pakistan to prevent further grave human right violations, target killings and mass bloodshed of innocent people and arrests of political leadership.