Ministers Condemn Maulana Fazlur Rehman Over 'Insensitive' Remarks on Military Personnel Senior Pakistani ministers, primarily from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), have publicly criticized Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), for remarks he made during a political rally in Kasur, Punjab. The comments, which linked the sacrifices of military personnel to their salaries, were deemed "unfair" and "morally insensitive" by several officials, sparking a wave of condemnation. Fazlur Rehman, who addressed the rally on May 16, 2026, discussed the security and terrorism challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. During his speech, he mentioned that soldiers’ martyrdom was often cited, adding that personnel received salaries for fighting for the country. This statement, however, drew sharp backlash from multiple ministers. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif expressed disappointment, stating that Fazlur Rehman’s words "diminished the value of the great sacrifices of our martyrs." Asif emphasized that the sacrifice of military personnel was rooted in ideology, duty, and love for the homeland, not financial compensation. The defence minister accused Fazlur Rehman of "moral insensitivity" for reducing the valor of security forces to a transactional exchange. He argued that such remarks hurt the sentiments of martyrs’ families, including widows and orphaned children. Asif’s critique was amplified by his call for politicians to respect the "ideology, association, love, and sacrifice" of those who gave their lives for the nation. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar echoed these sentiments, highlighting the nation’s debt to martyrs and their families.#khawaja_asif #pakistan_muslim_league_nawaz #jamiat_ulema_i_islam_fazl #attaullah_tarar #ahsan_iqbal
Pakistan Deploys 8,000 Troops and Fighter Jets to Saudi Arabia Amid US-Iran Tensions Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of JF-17 fighter jets, and an HQ-9 air defense system to Saudi Arabia under a defense pact, escalating regional tensions amid ongoing US-Iran hostilities. The move comes as Pakistan seeks to maintain its role as a key mediator in peace talks between the United States and Iran. Reports indicate that the deployment was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, though the Pakistani military, foreign ministry, and Saudi authorities have not issued official statements. The defense agreement, which remains confidential, stipulates that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will provide mutual defense in the event of an attack. Pakistan’s defense minister, Khwaja Asif, previously stated that Saudi Arabia would fall under Pakistan’s nuclear security umbrella under the pact. According to unverified sources, Pakistan has sent approximately 16 JF-17 fighter jets, developed in collaboration with China, to Saudi Arabia. These aircraft were deployed in April, and additional drone squadrons are also stationed in the kingdom. The deployment includes around 8,000 Pakistani troops, with Saudi Arabia covering the operational costs. A government source revealed that the pact allows for the potential deployment of up to 80,000 Pakistani soldiers to Saudi Arabia in case of heightened security threats, to bolster the kingdom’s border defenses alongside its own military. Security officials confirmed that the agreement also includes the stationing of Pakistani warships, though it remains unclear whether any vessels have arrived in Saudi waters.#pakistan #us #iran #saudi_arabia #khawaja_asif
