Ministers hit back at Fazlur Rehman over criticism of defence minister's absence from Tehran talks

During the National Assembly (NA) today, Asif explained that his presence at the talks was not required. "No defence agreement was being negotiated in Tehran," he said.

The defence minister said Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had played a role in promoting reconciliation and regional peace following Pakistan's military victory in a conflict over the past year or so. He maintained that he had participated in both defence agreements but had no role to play in the Tehran discussions.

Asif thanked Fazl for expressing concern about his absence but described the criticism as misplaced. Turning to Fazl's political career, Asif accused the JUI-F chief of selectively overlooking his own history of cooperation with successive governments while criticising political opponents.

Read:Fazl rejects rationale for K-P governor's rule. The minister said Fazl had remained associated with different political administrations and had benefited from political arrangements over the years. He referred to Fazl's tenure as opposition leader and his participation in governments formed under previous constitutional and political arrangements.

Asif also recalled that Fazl had played a significant role in the formation of earlier coalition governments, including administrations in which the two leaders had been political allies. The defence minister maintained that political leaders should acknowledge their own past decisions before criticising others.

He said he was frequently reminded of a speech he had delivered in 2004 whenever he spoke in support of Rawalpindi, an apparent reference to the military establishment. Asif said he did not consider it appropriate to erase his political past while attacking opponents, adding that he had publicly apologised for his previous political positions.

"I am the only politician who has apologised for his past," he claimed. Read more:Ministers hit out at Fazl over K-P remarks. The minister also criticised Fazl's political role during the period of the Legal Framework Order (LFO), saying the JUI-F chief had participated in the political system while simultaneously serving as opposition leader.

Asif questioned Fazl's performance during his decade-long tenure as chairman of the parliamentary Kashmir Committee. "What achievements did he accomplish as chairman of the Kashmir Committee? " Asif asked.

He accused the JUI-F chief of enjoying official privileges without delivering meaningful results, saying that his tenure amounted to little more than a "free ride". The defence minister also criticised Fazl's political legacy and questioned his party's historical position on Pakistan's independence.

Asif said political honours and positions previously extended to Fazl and his allies had been granted by governments in which he himself had participated. He also responded to Fazl's remarks about shame and modesty, urging the JUI-F chief to reflect on his own political record.

Also read:Fazl calls for new Charter of Democracy. The speech prompted strong protests from JUI-F lawmakers, who repeatedly interrupted the minister. As the exchanges intensified, Asif warned opposition members against provoking him into making further disclosures.

"They have turned religion and politics into a source of income. If I start revealing what they did during the PDM government, I will tell everything," he said. Naqvi denies Iran defence deal talks, criticises JUI-F chief in Senate.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi rejected allegations that his recent visit to Iran was aimed at negotiating a defence agreement, saying he had travelled to Tehran on a special assignment from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concerning the ongoing crisis.

Speaking during a Senate session, Naqvi said, “A campaign has been going on against me for some time,” and further added that it was said that we went to Iran to make a defence agreement. We did not go for a defence agreement.

We went in connection with the ongoing crisis. “The defence minister was asked about it, and he was unaware. He did not know because no defence-related discussions took place,” Naqvi said.

The prime minister gave me a special task, which is why I went. I have no desire to travel abroad,” he said.

Referring to criticism from JUI-F, Naqvi said, “JUI-F has been making comments about me for several days.”“I personally used to respect and honour Maulana Fazlur Rehman from the bottom of my heart, but yesterday, when he said, 'I spit on the state', that respect ended,” he said. “Maulana Sahib made filthy remarks about the institutions,” he added.

Naqvi said he asked the defence minister why he had not gone if it was a defence matter. He objected to why I had gone. It was not a defence agreement.

“The visit to Iran was in no way for a defence agreement,” the minister reiterated. “If they get a share in the government, everything is fine. If they have no role in the government, they start speaking against it,” he said.

“When they receive money from the state, the state is good. When they do not receive money, they turn against it,” he said. Naqvi said that they use Islam for business and politics.

“If they criticise, they should also have the courage to listen to the response,” he added. Referring to governor's rule, Naqvi said, “Before governor's rule, these people used to say, 'Get us rid of them'.”“You will no longer get money and jobs from the state, and when they exploit the state, it is their mother,” the interior minister said.

Opposition lawmakers protested during the interior minister's address, while Senator Kamran Murtaza objected to his choice of words.