GUJRANWALA: A local court has issued notices to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines Police Station on a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case over the cleric’s recent speech concerning the military.
The application was filed by Advocate Manzoor Qadir Bhinder, requesting the court to direct police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the JUI-F leader over what the petitioner described as a controversial speech.
Additional Sessions Judge Faisal Jameel heard the petition and issued notices to both the SHO and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, directing them to appear or respond on July 28.
The court also instructed the police to submit a report on the matter at the next hearing.
According to the petition, the applicant has asked the court to order the registration of an FIR based on remarks made by Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a recent speech.
The JUI-F chief’s comments have drawn criticism from several political leaders and religious figures.
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Allama Tahir Ashrafi condemned the remarks, stating that he apologized to the families of the country’s martyrs over the statement.
Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, MQM-Pakistan Chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and the PTI chairman also reacted to the speech, saying that linking the sacrifices of fallen security personnel to their salaries was inappropriate and unfair to the martyrs and their families.
The court proceedings at this stage relate to the petition seeking the registration of a case. No FIR has been ordered or registered by the court at this point, and the matter is scheduled to be taken up again on July 28, when the police report and responses from the parties are expected to be considered.
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