Sanaullah says JUI-F chief's remarks against martyrs were 'inappropriate', but unintended

Rana Sanaullah, an adviser to the Prime Minister and a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has described remarks made by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman about army martyrs as "inappropriate" but unintentional. Speaking on Geo News, Sanaullah stated that while Fazlur Rehman usually speaks carefully, his recent words concerning the martyrs were unacceptable.

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He (Fazl) always speaks in a balanced and measured manner, and his choice of words is usually very careful… In my opinion, he did not intend to say what he said.

Sanaullah also strongly condemned the JUI-F's warning of a protest outside the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. He characterized such a move as not merely an attack on the GHQ but a direct assault on Pakistan itself, emphasizing that it "cannot be allowed."

The adviser rejected the JUI-F's assertion that a propaganda campaign was being waged against their leader. He argued that Fazlur Rehman's comments were "so damaging that they could cause demotivation" among soldiers who sacrifice their lives, noting that such sacrifices are driven by motivation, not financial gain.

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The words uttered about the martyrs were inappropriate, this cannot be endorsed.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa JUI-F Emir Maulana Attaur Rehman defended his party chief, claiming that a "media storm" was manufactured by taking a half-sentence out of context from Fazlur Rehman's speech. He alleged that the campaign aimed to diminish Fazlur Rehman's political influence and reduce the party's standing. He also stated that workers would protest in Islamabad if ordered, framing it as a defense of democracy.

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This cannot be allowed. This will be considered a direct attack on Pakistan’s defence. It would not be an attack on GHQ; it would be an attack on Pakistan.

Sanaullah suggested that if Fazlur Rehman were to withdraw his remarks, it would be seen as a statesmanlike gesture, but noted that the JUI-F chief had adopted a different stance. He endorsed the strong reactions from political and public circles, believing they were necessary to restore trust with the families of the martyrs.

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Maulana was vilified on social media over an out-of-context excerpt from his speech.