In a highly-publicised speech recently, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman of JUI-F made aggressive and highly offensive remarks against the Military and martyrs. Speaking at a Jamiat Lawyers Forum convention in Islamabad, he fiercely defended his controversial statement regarding military sacrifices, which he considered as 'paid job' funded by public taxes. Maulana also rejected the longstanding stance of governments on flushing out terrorism from the militancy-affected areas of K-P and Balochistan, by forming lashkars or local militias. Though he correctly asserted that public security is strictly the State's responsibility, he conveniently overlooked the civil responsibility to protect khawra or land, being an age-old tradition, and legal, socio-political norm of the area.

Maulana has an old axe to grind with the Military, and every now and then he tries to remain relevant through such uncalled-for statements that do not go well with his stature as the leader of a religio-political party with 10 seats in the National Assembly, 18 seats in the KP Assembly (JUI-F being the largest opposition party) and 12 seats in Balochistan Assembly. As an opinion maker, influencer, seasoned politician and a Pakistani Pashtun from DIK, he should be supportive of the Military in securing his hometown from the stranglehold of militants who, not in very distant past, made two attempts on his life and killed scores of his party cadre. The Military constantly tips him for his safety.

In Pakistan's prevailing political culture, it is fashionable to criticise the Military for every perceived societal, economic and political ill, and 'mostly' get away with it. The criticism generally aims at earning political brownie points, seeking attention........

© The Express Tribune