Summary Khawaja Asif accused Fazlur Rehman of using religion for financial and political gain
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Tehran to promote peace and dialogue in the region, clarifying that no defence agreement was under discussion and his presence there was not necessary.
Addressing the National Assembly, Asif said Munir had played a role in facilitating dialogue in the region following last year's victory and had consistently supported negotiations as a means of establishing peace.
He said the meeting in Tehran was not related to the Ministry of Defence and that no relevant agreement was being discussed there. Asif added that Saudi Arabia's defence minister and Türkiye's intelligence chief had attended the meeting, rather than defence ministers from all sides.
The defence minister called for recognition of Pakistan's and Field Marshal Munir's role at the international level in promoting regional peace.
Asif responds to Fazlur Rehman's criticism
Asif also responded to criticism from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, saying he respected the politician's standing in Pakistan's political landscape and was grateful for the concerns he had raised.
He said political parties had experienced both disagreements and cooperation over the years, adding that past differences with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had been set aside to achieve shared goals.
Asif said he was the only politician to have apologised for his past positions. He added that whenever he spoke about the hybrid system, he was reminded of his earlier speeches.
Responding to Fazlur Rehman's remarks, Asif said the JUI-F chief should also reflect on his own political past before criticising others. He pointed out that Fazlur Rehman had been part of previous governments and had served as chairman of the National Assembly's Kashmir Committee for 10 years, questioning what he had achieved for the Kashmir cause during that period.
Accuses opponents of exploiting religion for political gain
Asif further accused Fazlur Rehman of using religion for financial and political gain, claiming that other political parties had not made religion a source of income in the same way.
He also criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), saying its members had sought shelter under Fazlur Rehman's political umbrella.
The defence minister said he had listened patiently to Fazlur Rehman's speech but objected to what he described as personal attacks. He also remarked that Fazlur Rehman had now begun seeking support from women.
The National Assembly witnessed noisy exchanges during Asif's address, briefly interrupting his speech before he was allowed to continue
