Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday urged Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to clarify remarks concerning the sacrifices of Pakistan\u2019s armed forces, saying the comments had deeply hurt the families of martyrs, wounded soldiers and caused anguish across the country.
\nAddressing a press conference, the minister paid tribute to the officers and Jawans of the armed forces who lost their lives while defending the country and combating terrorism, arguing that their sacrifices could not be equated with salaries or financial benefits.
\nAbbasi said every martyr left behind grieving parents, widows and young children whose sacrifices should never be diminished.
\nReferring to photographs of several martyred officers displayed during the press conference, he said many had embraced martyrdom at a young age, leaving behind families and children who would grow up without their fathers.
\nHe said the pain endured by the families of martyrs should be understood before making public comments about military service, adding that no amount of financial compensation could replace the loss suffered by those families.
\nThe minister said he had grown up respecting Pakistan\u2019s armed forces and continued to take pride in their role in defending the country.
\nHe said the armed forces had earned national and international recognition through their professionalism and sacrifices.
\nReferring to Pakistan\u2019s recent security achievements, Abbasi said the country\u2019s successes were made possible through the sacrifices of martyrs and veterans rather than financial incentives.
\nHe rejected any suggestion that soldiers fought merely because they received salaries, saying many young Pakistanis aspired to join the armed forces despite knowing the risks associated with military service.
\nAbbasi said the armed forces represented every province and region of Pakistan, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
\nMentioning a number of martyred officers from different parts of the country, he said their sacrifices demonstrated that the military belonged to the entire nation rather than any particular province or ethnic group.
\nHe said thousands of soldiers had laid down their lives in the fight against terrorism and many others had been injured or permanently disabled while performing their duties.
\nAccording to the minister, Pakistan\u2019s armed forces had rendered more than 12,000 martyrs over the past several decades, while thousands of other personnel had sustained life-changing injuries.
\nThe minister maintained that Pakistan\u2019s peace, security and constitutional order had been preserved through these sacrifices, saying members of the armed forces remained deployed daily against terrorist threats.
\nAbbasi said Pakistan continued to face security challenges, stating that hostile external elements, including India and elements operating from Afghanistan, were supporting terrorism against Pakistan.
\nHe further said that terrorist groups operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were receiving external backing.
\nHe also referred to recent incidents of terrorism, including attacks in Balochistan in which labourers lost their lives, and said such incidents required national unity and unequivocal condemnation.
\nCalling for a united national response, Abbasi said all political parties, religious leaders and citizens should stand together against terrorism rather than adopt narratives that weakened the morale of the country\u2019s defenders.
\nCommenting on Maulana Fazlur Rehman remarks, the minister said he continued to hold the JUI-F chief in high regard and had always respected religious scholars.
\nHe said he had no intention of launching a personal attack and believed the remarks under discussion might have resulted from an inappropriate choice of words or have been made in an emotional moment.
\nNevertheless, he maintained that the comments had hurt the feelings of martyrs\u2019 families, veterans and the wider public.
\nAbbasi said there would be no harm if the remarks were clarified or withdrawn, adding that doing so would demonstrate respect for the sacrifices rendered by the armed forces and send a positive message of national unity.
\nHe stressed that differences in political opinion should not lead to statements that could be interpreted as undermining the sacrifices of soldiers engaged in defending the country.
\nThe minister also appealed to religious scholars to use their influence to strengthen national cohesion, saying their voices carried significant weight across society and could help unite people during difficult times.
\nHe said Pakistan had successfully resisted attempts to create divisions on the basis of sectarianism, ethnicity and provincial identity, and urged the nation not to allow such divisions to weaken the country\u2019s unity.
\nAbbasi warned against efforts by hostile forces to destabilise Pakistan through proxy warfare, terrorism and disinformation campaigns, saying the country\u2019s adversaries sought to create internal discord after failing to achieve their objectives through conventional means.
\nHe argued that maintaining confidence in state institutions, particularly the armed forces, was essential for Pakistan\u2019s stability and security.
\nResponding to reporters, the minister reiterated that his criticism was confined solely to the remarks attributed to Maulana Fazlur Rehman and did not extend to his person or stature as a political and religious leader.
\nHe again said he believed the issue related to the choice of words rather than intent, adding that everyone could make mistakes while speaking emotionally and that such matters could be resolved through clarification.
\nAsked whether an apology would be appropriate, Abbasi said there would be nothing wrong if remarks that had hurt the families of martyrs were withdrawn or apologised for, adding that such a step would honour the sacrifices of those who had laid down their lives for Pakistan.
\nHe rejected suggestions that his remarks were intended to create political confrontation, saying his purpose was to express solidarity with the families of martyrs and veterans.
\nThe minister further said Pakistan\u2019s security personnel constituted the first line of defence against terrorism and continued to sacrifice their lives so that citizens could live in peace.
\nHe said weakening public confidence in the armed forces would only benefit terrorists and Pakistan\u2019s adversaries.
\nAbbasi also referred to the historical role played by Kashmiri leaders in supporting Pakistan and reiterated Pakistan\u2019s longstanding position on Jammu and Kashmir, saying the country remained committed to the cause of the Kashmiri people.
\nDrawing comparisons with countries affected by prolonged conflict, he cautioned Pakistani youth against supporting narratives that could destabilise the country, saying peace and stability should remain national priorities.
\nConcluding the press conference, the minister paid tribute to all martyrs, veterans and their families, saying the nation owed them an enduring debt of gratitude.
\nHe said the sacrifices made by members of Pakistan\u2019s armed forces could never be measured in monetary terms and called upon all sections of society to honour their service, maintain national unity and collectively reject terrorism and extremism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi on Tuesday urged Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to clarify remarks concerning the sacrifices of Pakistan\u2019s armed forces, saying the comments had deeply hurt the families of martyrs, wounded soldiers and caused anguish across the country. Addressing a press conference, the minister paid tribute to the officers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541248,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-556198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n