Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Thursday announced that the party’s volunteer force, Ansar-ul-Islam, has been given civil defence responsibilities, asserting that seminary students would stand alongside the armed forces to defend the country.
Addressing the National Assembly on Defence Day, the JUI-F chief paid tribute to the Pakistan Army’s “valour and strategic response” and called for national unity amid growing security and geopolitical challenges.
“In these trying times, our seminaries are not detached. Our students are prepared to serve shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Army,” he said. “The nation is observing Defence Day to honour the sacrifices and courage of our soldiers. Every citizen must be ready to take part in civil defence.”
Maulana Fazl announced that the party would organise Million March rallies in Peshawar on May 11 and in Quetta on May 15 as a demonstration of solidarity with the military.
The JUI-F chief also underscored the importance of enhanced diplomatic engagement, lamenting the government’s current approach to foreign policy as insufficient. “We should have dispatched special envoys and paid personal visits to key allies like China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran,” he said. “Relying merely on phone calls is inadequate.”
He voiced concern over the perceived alliance between India and Israel, alleging that both countries were targeting Islamic institutions. “Pakistan must expose their actions at the international level, particularly the attacks on mosques and madaris,” he said, calling for a unified and robust national narrative.
Questioning the scope and transparency of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts, Maulana Fazl demanded a clearer policy direction and more assertive representation on the global stage.
“There is no room for ambiguity in these critical times,” he said. “The government must lead with clarity, strength, and unity.”
