Petition seeks FIR against JUI's Fazlur Rehman over Army-related speech

GUJRANWALA -- A petition has been filed seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his recent speech concerning the armed forces.

The application was submitted by Advocate Manzoor Qadir Bhinder.

Additional Sessions Judge Faisal Jameel issued notices to the Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines Police Station and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, directing them to appear on July 28.

The court also ordered the police to submit a report on the matter by July 28.

The petition requests the court to direct the police to register an FIR over what it describes as Maulana Fazlur Rehman's controversial remarks.

Separately, Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi condemned the statement, saying that he apologised to the families of the martyrs over the remarks made against those who had sacrificed their lives.

A day earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman also reacted to the statement, saying that equating the sacrifices of martyrs with salaries was unjust to the fallen personnel and their bereaved families.