“This Country Belongs to All of Us, Not Any General,” Fazlur Rehman Tells National Assembly

ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has warned the government against resorting to violence, declaring that Pakistan belongs to all its citizens and not to any military officer or general.

“We are prepared to die at your hands, but we are not prepared to die at the hands of history,” Fazlur Rehman said while addressing the National Assembly.

He said parliament was a representative institution of the people, but the capacity for tolerance had diminished and the situation in the country was continuously deteriorating.

The JUI-F chief recalled that when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march was heading towards Islamabad, PTI leaders had approached him and asked him to play a role in resolving the situation.

He said a detailed discussion subsequently took place in the presence of Rana Sanaullah. Later that night, he received a telephone call from the Prime Minister’s Office inviting him to dinner, which he accepted.

According to Fazlur Rehman, the prime minister held detailed discussions with him and subsequently asked the opposition to call off the long march.

However, at around 10:30am the following morning, Ishaq Dar telephoned him and conveyed that the cabinet was not agreeing to the proposed arrangement, he said.

Fazlur Rehman maintained that he had made sincere efforts to resolve the matter peacefully, but governor’s rule and emergency were subsequently imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He criticised the government’s argument that the constitutional procedure had been followed, alleging that constitutional provisions had been misused and that the transfer of power had been brought about through force.

The JUI-F chief also accused the government of disregarding Article 2A of the Constitution and taking an undemocratic step.

Questioning the justification for the measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he asked whether the law and order situation in Balochistan was any better, pointing out that even commissioners were being abducted there.

He also referred to reports that the son of the Khan of Kalat had been abducted and questioned whether the federal government had succeeded in maintaining law and order across the country.

JUI-F’s Sacrifices Ridiculed, Says Fazlur Rehman

Fazlur Rehman described his party as one that had made significant sacrifices and expressed resentment over what he said were repeated taunts and the ridicule of those sacrifices.

He questioned why the sacrifices made by his party’s martyrs were being overlooked.

“We have not fought for a long time, and our hands are itching to fight,” he remarked during his speech, while urging political leaders to sit together at the negotiating table instead of allowing the situation to deteriorate.

He warned that if the government pursued violence, it would be following the path adopted by Pharaoh.

The JUI-F chief also recalled his role during difficult political periods, telling government lawmakers that he had stood on the front foot when they were facing challenging circumstances.

He said his efforts at the time were aimed at preventing bloodshed and protecting the country from further political confrontation.

Calls for a New Charter of Democracy

Fazlur Rehman invited both the government and the opposition to sit together and formulate a new Charter of Democracy to safeguard the country’s political future.

He said the agreement should include representatives from both sides and establish a common framework for democratic governance, constitutional supremacy and political stability.

The JUI-F chief argued that the country was facing a serious crisis in which democracy, constitutional principles and the rule of law had been undermined.

He urged political leaders to work collectively to prevent unconstitutional actions and violence, stressing that dialogue remained essential to resolving the country’s problems.

Exchange With Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

During his address, Fazlur Rehman also questioned Pakistan’s diplomatic and defence arrangements, referring to reports of defence-related agreements and negotiations taking place in Tehran while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif were present in Pakistan.

Looking towards Khawaja Asif, he made a sarcastic remark about the situation, prompting laughter in the National Assembly.

He stressed that the country’s dignity and national honour should be kept in mind when dealing with such matters.

Speaker Orders Removal of a Remark

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said he would listen to Fazlur Rehman’s speech but would expunge any unparliamentary language from the proceedings.

The speaker subsequently ordered one sentence from the JUI-F chief’s speech to be removed from the official record.

Concluding his address, Fazlur Rehman reiterated his willingness to work towards a political settlement, warning that the country must not be pushed towards violence or unconstitutional measures.

He said Pakistan belonged to all its citizens and called for a renewed democratic agreement to protect the Constitution, prevent bloodshed and restore political stability.

قومی اسمبلی میں امیر جے یو آئی مولانا فضل الرحمٰن کا خطاب جاری،
اسکرینوں پر آواز بند کر دی گئی، جبکہ قومی اسمبلی کی لائیو نشریات بھی بند کر دی گئیں۔ https://t.co/7u37FdZzsS

— Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan (@juipakofficial) October 28, 2026