A Lahore sessions court has sought a written response from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in a petition seeking the registration of a criminal case against Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman over his controversial remarks about Pakistan’s martyrs.

Additional Sessions Judge Malik Latif issued the directive during a hearing on Wednesday and adjourned proceedings until August 17.

The petition, filed by citizen Muhammad Waqar, argues that Fazlur Rehman’s speech, delivered at a public gathering in Kasur, contained derogatory remarks about martyrs and deeply hurt the sentiments of the public as well as the families of fallen soldiers.

The petitioner requested the court to order the immediate registration of a case against the JUI-F chief in accordance with the law.

According to the petition, the speech was circulated on social media and included remarks linking the sacrifices of military personnel to their salaries, drawing widespread criticism.

The case comes days after a similar petition was filed in a Gujranwala court by a senior lawyer. That court has already summoned Fazlur Rehman to appear in person on July 28.

Political backlash intensifies

Fazlur Rehman’s remarks have sparked strong condemnation from federal ministers, lawmakers and political leaders, many of whom described the comments as disrespectful to the country’s martyrs and demanded a public apology.

Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said there was no doubt about JUI-F’s political standing but expressed strong disagreement with Fazlur Rehman’s remarks, describing the Pakistan Army as the guarantor of the country’s integrity.

Religious scholar Maulana Tahir Ashrafi became emotional during a press conference in Karachi alongside Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, apologising to the families of martyrs over the controversy.

“I apologise to the families of our martyrs because these statements have caused them immense pain,” Ashrafi said.

He said Pakistan’s armed forces were sacrificing their lives for the country’s peace and future, stressing that soldiers were not defending the country’s borders merely for salaries but out of patriotism, faith and a sense of duty.

He urged politicians to avoid targeting state institutions for political purposes and instead support security personnel serving on the front lines.

Ministers demand apology

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Fazlur Rehman, as a veteran politician and senior religious leader, should have exercised greater responsibility in choosing his words.

“No one sacrifices their life merely for a salary. Such sacrifices are driven by faith, ideology and love for the homeland,” he said.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also criticised the remarks, saying they were inconsistent with Islamic teachings and moral values.

In a social media post, he said millions of Pakistanis had been hurt by comments that appeared to diminish the sacrifices of martyrs.

Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Aoun Chaudhry urged Fazlur Rehman to apologise to the nation and the families of martyrs, while Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry questioned whether the life of a martyr could ever be measured in material terms.

Minister of State for Railways Hanif Abbasi said the remarks had hurt the entire nation, noting that the Pakistan Army had remained engaged in the fight against terrorism for decades.

Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, without naming Fazlur Rehman, said martyrdom was the ultimate aspiration of a true believer and could not be understood in material or financial terms.

The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) spokesperson Fayyaz ul Hassan Chohan also condemned the statement, saying soldiers laid down their lives for the country, not for salaries.

Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry, however, took a different view, saying Fazlur Rehman was a seasoned politician whose broader concerns about the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deserved serious consideration.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar was among several government leaders who also condemned the remarks, describing them as disrespectful to the sacrifices of the country’s martyrs.