Lahore court issues notice to NCCIA on plea seeking case against Fazl over remarks on security personnel

A sessions court in Lahore has ordered the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to respond to a petition seeking a case against Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. The petition accuses Rehman of making controversial and derogatory remarks about Pakistan's security personnel and their sacrifices.

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security personnel were drawing salaries to fight for the country.

The alleged statement was made during a recent party rally in Kasur, Punjab, where Rehman reportedly commented on the security situation and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The petitioner, Mohammad Waqar, claims he saw a social media video of the speech in which Rehman referred to soldiers' martyrdom as merely compensation for their salaries, a statement that allegedly hurt the sentiments of the public and the families of martyrs.

Advocate Mudassar Chaudhry, representing the petitioner, argued that Rehman's remarks during a public gathering were deeply offensive. An earlier application to the NCCIA director for registering a case had reportedly gone unaddressed, prompting the court's intervention. The judge has set August 17 for the agency to submit its reply.

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To describe such an unparalleled sacrifice as merely a compensation for a salary is neither fair, nor in accordance with the demands of ethics, and nor aligned with Islamic teachings.

Rehman's statement drew sharp criticism from government ministers, particularly from the ruling PML-N party. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed disappointment on social media, calling the remarks "unfair" and expecting more responsibility from a seasoned politician. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal echoed this sentiment, stating on X that describing the sacrifices of security forces as merely a salary compensation is neither fair nor aligned with ethical or Islamic teachings.

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unfair