Prominent Pakistani politician and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has launched one of his strongest criticisms yet of Pakistan's military establishment, openly challenging Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to resign from the military, establish a political party, and contest elections if he intends to participate in politics.
Speaking at a public gathering on July 12, Rehman accused the military of interfering in political affairs and questioned its expanding role beyond defence and national security.
"If you want to do politics, then take off the uniform and enter politics. Contest elections. Then we will see how many votes a man in uniform gets," Rehman said.
His remarks come at a time when the military's influence in Pakistan has increasingly moved from behind-the-scenes intervention to a more formalised dominance over civilian institutions. Army Chief Asim Munir is widely regarded as the country's most influential figure, with his authority often seen as surpassing that of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, including in matters of international representation.
Continuing his criticism, Rehman, who is also a member of Pakistan's National Assembly, asserted that deciding who governs the country is not the responsibility of the military.
"You have the power to install whichever government you want and remove whichever government you want. It is not the army's job to decide who forms the government and who leaves office," he said.
His comments follow the Pakistan government's decision to appoint Field Marshal Asim Munir to a high-level committee tasked with addressing issues related to the country's growing population.
The veteran politician also criticised suggestions that ordinary citizens should form militias or take up arms to combat terrorism and militant groups.
He argued that maintaining security is the responsibility of the state and the armed forces, whose personnel are paid to perform that duty.
"They say, 'Our soldiers are being martyred.' My friend, your soldiers wear uniforms and receive salaries because they are expected to safeguard the country. Why do you place the burden of their sacrifice on me? They are paid from the taxes collected through my hard work and earnings for precisely this purpose," he said.
Rejecting the idea of civilian militias, Rehman added, "You ask us to organise militias, carry weapons and fight armed groups ourselves. I have not received any salary from the state. I will not raise a militia."
He further warned that encouraging civilians to take up arms would have serious long-term consequences.
"You may leave, but you are pushing my land into personal feuds that will continue for generations. You are leading it towards endless violence and bloodshed," he said.
During the rally, the JUI-F chief also made strong claims regarding the security situation in Balochistan, alleging that significant parts of the province were effectively beyond the control of the Pakistani state.
"There were insurgencies in the Baloch-majority areas of Balochistan. The entire Baloch region had slipped out of Pakistan's control. Even today, the writ of the Pakistani government does not exist there," he said.
According to Rehman, while unrest had historically been concentrated in Baloch-majority regions, violence has now spread to Pashtun areas as well.
