LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari, reacting to Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement, said that he had once again made an “irresponsible remark unbecoming of a senior political leader”.
In a statement issued on Saturday, she termed support for sympathisers of terrorists regrettable and urged Maulana Fazlur Rehman to express regret over his statement. She said that responsibility for the deprivation of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) should not be shifted onto the federal government; instead, questions should be directed at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which had been in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the past 13 years. She added that questions regarding funds allocated for the former FATA and the lack of development work should also be addressed to PTI founder Imran Khan and his party.
The Minister noted that Maulana Fazlur Rehman and his party had themselves been targeted in terrorist attacks on several occasions, adding that he should therefore exercise caution in making such statements and questioned whom he was trying to appease through such remarks. “Politics should be pursued, but the ridicule of state institutions and the disrespect of martyrs must be avoided. Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s earlier remarks had also provoked strong public anger.”
She further said that serious questions had been raised about PTI’s policies concerning terrorist groups. Referring to the imposition of Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she maintained that the federal government had not taken the step without reason. In her view, the situation had arisen because of what she described as the PTI government’s policies towards terrorists in the province.
Bokhari said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s latest statement had caused widespread public resentment. She added that irresponsible remarks were unbecoming of a mature political leader and urged him to reconsider his words.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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