Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a formidable and widely respected figure in Pakistani politics. When he expresses his views on a matter of national importance, they cannot simply be brushed aside. Yet respect for a political leader does not mean that his pronouncements must be accepted without scrutiny. Even an opinion expressed by Maulana himself must be tested against reason, argument and the facts at hand.

Maulana’s position following the imposition of emergency rule and governor’s rule has two distinct dimensions: the political and the strategic. The political dimension is not the subject of this article. Our concern here is the strategic argument he has advanced.

In his remarks on critical minerals, Maulana has, in essence, argued that the emergency has been imposed to gain control of Pakistan’s mineral wealth; that deals are being struck with the Americans to place our resources at their disposal; and that a foreign power, the United States, is being brought into the region, an arrangement that allegedly raises concerns for China and Russia as well.

Politics has its ebbs and flows. Disagreements are part and parcel of political life, and there is nothing wrong with expressing them.

Politics has its ebbs and flows. Disagreements are part and parcel of political life, and there is nothing wrong with expressing them.

The first question, then, is straightforward: what agreement has Pakistan entered into with the United States that could possibly be construed as handing over ownership of Pakistan’s resources to the Americans? Indeed, has Pakistan entered into any such agreement with any country at........

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