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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s political tensions intensified after Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), took a swipe at Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his absence from a high-level regional security meeting in Tehran.
Speaking in Pakistan’s National Assembly on Wednesday, Fazlur Rehman questioned why the country’s defence minister was not present at a meeting reportedly attended by Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the JUI-F chief used the issue to criticise the government and question the roles played by senior officials at the meeting.
‘A Major Security Understanding Is Taking Shape, but the Defence Minister Is Here’
During his address to the National Assembly, Fazlur Rehman reportedly pointed out the apparent contradiction between the importance of the Tehran meeting and the defence minister’s presence in parliament.
He questioned why Khawaja Asif remained in the assembly while senior Pakistani officials attended the meeting in Iran.
Fazlur Rehman also questioned the presence of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the gathering, asking why the interior minister had attended if the defence minister himself was absent.
His remarks drew laughter and applause from members of the assembly, according to the report.
‘Have Some Shame’: Fazlur Rehman Takes a Dig at Khawaja Asif
Fazlur Rehman reportedly used a phrase associated with Khawaja Asif’s earlier political criticism of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to mock the defence minister.
He questioned the government’s standing and used the pointed remark, “Have some shame, have some modesty,” according to the supplied report.
The exchange became a moment of political embarrassment for the government, with lawmakers reacting audibly to Fazlur Rehman’s comments.
His criticism focused on the absence of the defence minister from a meeting that he portrayed as important to Pakistan’s regional security interests.
Khawaja Asif Responds to the Criticism
Khawaja Asif reportedly responded to the controversy in the National Assembly on Thursday. He said the Tehran meeting was not related to defence matters, offering an explanation for why he had not attended.
His response sought to challenge the criticism that his absence was inappropriate given the reported participation of other senior Pakistani officials.
The distinction between a defence meeting and a broader regional security discussion is central to the dispute. The full context of the meeting, its agenda and the official explanation for the participants’ attendance should be verified against the complete parliamentary remarks and official statements.
Why the Tehran Meeting Has Drawn Attention
The reported participation of Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a high-level meeting in Tehran has prompted questions about Pakistan’s diplomatic and security coordination.
Fazlur Rehman’s comments have brought those questions into the political spotlight, turning the issue into a public exchange between opposition criticism and the government’s explanation.
The controversy also highlights how the roles of Pakistan’s military leadership, civilian ministers and government representatives can become subjects of political debate when officials attend sensitive regional engagements.
