**Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Strongly Rejects Maryam Nawaz’s Plan to Pay Imams, Calls It an Attempt to ‘Buy’ Clergy**
**Chiniot (Qudrat News)** — Jamaat-e-Islami? — Correction: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) chief **Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman** firmly rejected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader **Maryam Nawaz**’s proposal to provide monthly stipends to imams, calling the move an attempt to “buy” mosque leaders.
Speaking at a Khatm-e-Nubuwwat conference in **Chenab Nagar**, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman criticized the offer and accused the PML-N of trying to influence religious figures with money. “We had hoped the PML-N would show prudence after the PDM experience, but today they are attempting to purchase our mosque imams with just ten thousand rupees,” he said.
In a heated remark aimed at the policy — delivered from the conference stage — Fazl-ur-Rehman declared that he rejects the stipend proposal in the strongest terms and emphasized the independence and dignity of religious scholars. He warned that past attempts to use financial incentives to influence clergy had failed, citing earlier experiences in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The speech reflects heightened tensions between religious and political leaders over outreach and influence within mosque leadership. Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman urged that imams, khateebs, and religious teachers be respected for their integrity rather than treated as political instruments.
