Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi responds to Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the Senate, defends Pakistan’s visit to Iran and warns against statements he considers contrary to state interests.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi responded to criticism from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the Senate, defending his visit to Iran and warning that he would respond to statements he considers contrary to the interests of the state.
Naqvi said Fazlur Rehman had been criticising him for several weeks and urged his critics to be prepared to hear his response.
“If you criticise, have the courage to listen to the reply as well,” Naqvi said.
The interior minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had assigned him a special task, adding that his visit to Iran was not undertaken for personal interest.
“I do not go to Iran or anywhere else out of personal desire,” Naqvi said, explaining that the visit was aimed at helping resolve the ongoing crisis in Iran.
He also rejected the suggestion that the visit was connected to a defence agreement, saying it was not undertaken for that purpose.
Naqvi’s remarks came amid a broader exchange with Fazlur Rehman, during which the interior minister criticised what he described as the use of religion for political and personal gains.
“These people use Islam for business and politics,” he said, adding that some individuals use religion to serve their personal interests.
The minister also questioned the conduct of political figures who, in his view, criticise the state while benefiting from it.
“As long as they are receiving benefits from the state, the state is good,” Naqvi said.
He further said certain actions and statements were unbecoming of politicians, expressing displeasure over remarks he attributed to Fazlur Rehman.
Naqvi said he no longer had respect in his heart for the JUI-F chief because of what he described as anti-state statements. His remarks reflected the growing tensions between the interior minister and the JUI-F leadership.
The minister also claimed that JUI-F members had previously urged him to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He did not provide further details about the alleged requests in the remarks supplied.
Addressing the party more broadly, Naqvi warned that statements crossing what he described as a line concerning the state would receive a response.
“If they cross this line, they will be answered in every case,” he said.
Naqvi also said that those involved would no longer receive jobs or financial benefits from the state, although he did not elaborate on the circumstances in which such measures might apply.
The exchange highlighted disagreements over political conduct, the use of religion in politics and the relationship between political parties and state institutions.
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