Fazlur Rehman Criticizes Pakistan's Establishment and Military in Punjab Speech (12th July 2026)

Encyclopedia of Contemporary World History

Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Pakistan’s Governance, Military, and Constitutional Boundaries

Maulana Fazlur Rehman made these remarks during a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) public rally held on 12 July 2026 in Kasur, Punjab. In his address, he focused extensively on Pakistan’s deteriorating security environment, particularly the rise of terrorism and the weakening of state authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Arguing that the state’s primary responsibility was to ensure public safety, he criticized what he described as governance failures and questioned calls for civilians to organize armed resistance. In this context, he referred to the frequent invocation of soldiers’ martyrdom, stating that military personnel were salaried to defend the country and fulfill their constitutional duty, and that the burden of combating militant groups should not be shifted onto ordinary citizens.

Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam Pakistan X handle Post

“I want to say to the Muqtadara (establishment) that you are not outsiders either. You too are our Pakistanis; you too are our Kalma-go (those who profess the Islamic declaration of faith) brothers. But if one has to live within the country, then there are limits for me as well; I should not go beyond my own da’irah (constitutional sphere/limit). Parliament also has its own da’irah (sphere of authority). Every department has its own da’irah-e-ikhtiyar (jurisdiction). Likewise, the military also has its own da’irah-e-ikhtiyar (jurisdiction). The military also has its own responsibility—focus on fulfilling your own responsibility.

The country is being ruined. Today, there is effectively no government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After the sun sets in the west until the sun rises in the morning, the police do not come out of their police stations. And when the police do not come out of their stations, the roads are left in the hands of armed groups, and the highways and routes remain at the mercy of bandits.

I know your hakimiyat (authority/control) in my province. You have no real government there. You only sit inside your grand bungalows in the capitals, with one leg crossed over the other, believing that you are the rulers. But at least in my province, you have no government.

And listen to this—listen with the ears of your heart wide open. These are facts. I am not displaying oratory from a stage.

In Balochistan, there were insurgencies in the Baloch areas, and the entire Baloch region had gone out of Pakistan’s control. Even today, the Government of Pakistan has no real rit (writ/authority of the state) there. But we were mourning only the Baloch region; now the Pashtun region too is drenched in blood. Within just two or three days, we have received more than fifty dead bodies in the Pashtun areas. We went to the markets for only one purpose—to buy kafan (burial shrouds) for our loved ones. We did only one thing—to offer the janazah (funeral prayers) of our loved ones.

Is this the destiny of the people of Pakistan—that we must spend our lives shedding blood? Neither can my child leave home to go to school, nor can the poor man of my province leave home to earn his daily livelihood. And if he does leave home, he does not feel safe.

Then they say, ‘Our young men are being shaheed (martyred).’ Oh brother! Your soldiers put on the uniform precisely for that purpose, and they receive their salaries for that purpose—to fight for the security of the country. Why do you act as though you are doing me a favor with your blood? You receive your salary from the taxes paid through my blood and sweat for exactly this purpose. Yet you tell us to raise lashkars (tribal militias), to take up arms, and to fight the armed groups ourselves.

I have taken no salary, and I will not form any lashkar (tribal militia). You will leave, but you are pushing my homeland into personal vendettas for generations to come. You are pushing it permanently toward killing and bloodshed. Explain this politics to someone else—do not try to explain it to us.

If you want to do politics, then take off the wardi (military uniform) and come. Contest the elections, and then you will find out what kind of votes a man in uniform receives. It has become your authority that you can give power to whomever you wish, and take power away from whomever you wish.”

— Amir (Chief/President) of JUI (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, addressing a public gathering in Punjab. (Date: 12 Jul 2026)

Sarvarthapedia Cross-Referenced Conceptual Network

Conceptual Cluster: Civil-Military Relations, Constitutional Authority, and Internal Security in Pakistan

This speech by Maulana Fazlur Rehman represents a conceptual intersection of constitutional governance, civil-military relations, state legitimacy, counterinsurgency, democratic accountability, and Islamic political discourse. Rather than functioning merely as a political speech, it presents a structured critique of the relationship between military institutions, civilian government, and state authority within Pakistan.

Core Concept

Constitutional Distribution of State Authority

Central Proposition

Every institution of the state possesses a constitutionally defined sphere of authority (Da’irah-e-Ikhtiyar). Political instability emerges when one institution exceeds or neglects its legitimate constitutional function.

Connected Concepts

Constitutionalism
Rule of Law
Separation of Powers
Democratic Accountability
Institutional Responsibility
Civilian Supremacy
State Legitimacy

Cluster I: Da’irah (Constitutional Sphere of Authority)

The repeated use of Da’irah establishes a theory of constitutional boundaries.

Connected Concepts

Institutional Competence
Jurisdiction
Constitutional Restraint
Legal Authority
Division of Government Powers

Constitutional Governance
Institutional Checks and Balances
Military Jurisdiction
Executive Accountability
Constitutional Crisis

Cluster II: Muqtadara (The Establishment)

The speech distinguishes between

Pakistani society
Civilian political institutions
Military establishment

without questioning shared national identity.

Connected Concepts

Deep State
Security Establishment
Permanent State
Bureaucratic Power
Elite Governance

Cross References

Civil-Military Relations
Security State
Strategic Decision Making
Intelligence Institutions
National Security Bureaucracy

Cluster III: Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan

The speech argues that

Military institutions exist to provide security rather than political governance.

Connected Concepts

Professional Military
Civilian Control of Armed Forces
Democratic Oversight
Political Neutrality
National Defence

Military Professionalism
Constitutional Militaries
Coups and Military Intervention
National Defence Policy
Security Governance

Cluster IV: Rule of Law and State Capacity

The absence of police presence is presented as evidence of declining governmental authority.

Indicators

Police withdrawal
Armed groups
Criminal control of roads
Fear among civilians

Connected Concepts

State Capacity
Law Enforcement
Monopoly over Violence
Internal Security
Public Administration

Failed Governance
Security Sector Reform
Criminal Networks
Territorial Control

Cluster V: Writ of the State

The speech repeatedly questions whether the state possesses effective territorial authority.

Components

Territorial Control
Administrative Presence
Judicial Enforcement
Security Enforcement
Political Sovereignty

Connected Concepts

Sovereignty
Governance
Internal Conflict
Political Geography
Federal Administration

Cross References

State Failure
Fragile States
Counterinsurgency
Territorial Administration

Cluster VI: Internal Armed Conflict

The speech links two conflict theatres

Balochistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

as examples of declining state authority.

Connected Concepts

Insurgency
Counterinsurgency
Ethnic Conflict
Separatism
Terrorism

Baloch Insurgency
Pashtun Security Issues
Tribal Areas
Hybrid Conflict
Armed Non-State Actors

Cluster VII: Human Security

The speech shifts the discussion from territorial security toward individual security.

Dimensions

Child safety
Education
Livelihood
Freedom of movement
Civilian protection

Connected Concepts

Human Security
Social Stability
Public Safety
Everyday Governance
Development

Human Development
Internal Displacement
Social Order
Civilian Protection

Cluster VIII: Military Duty and Public Taxation

The speech advances a civic argument.

Citizens finance national defence through taxation.

Therefore

Military service is a constitutional duty rather than a voluntary sacrifice demanding political deference.

Connected Concepts

Public Finance
Civilian Taxation
Defence Budget
Public Accountability
Social Contract

Cross References

Fiscal Sociology
Taxation and Citizenship
Defence Economics
Public Administration

Cluster IX: Rejection of Civilian Militias

The speech rejects proposals for citizens to organize armed groups.

Argument

Security remains an exclusive responsibility of the state.

Connected Concepts

Monopoly of Violence
Vigilantism
Militias
Civil Defence
State Responsibility

Weberian State
Armed Militias
Informal Security Networks
Community Defence

Cluster X: Monopoly of Legitimate Violence

Underlying Principle

Only the state possesses legitimate authority to employ organized force.

Connected Concepts

Max Weber
Sovereignty
Law Enforcement
National Defence
Constitutional Authority

Political Sociology
Modern State Formation
Security Institutions

Cluster XI: Democracy versus Military Politics

The speech distinguishes between

Military Service
Electoral Politics

Its argument

Political legitimacy should emerge through elections rather than institutional power.

Connected Concepts

Electoral Democracy
Representative Government
Civilian Leadership
Political Competition
Democratic Legitimacy

Elections
Political Parties
Constitutional Democracy
Democratic Transition

Cluster XII: Institutional Accountability

Every institution should remain accountable within its assigned constitutional function.

Institutions Mentioned

Parliament
Police
Military
Civil Administration
Provincial Government

Connected Concepts

Public Administration
Institutional Performance
Administrative Responsibility
Constitutional Ethics

Cluster XIII: Political Theology

Religious vocabulary serves primarily as a language of shared national identity.

Examples

Kalma-go
Shaheed
Janazah

Connected Concepts

Islamic Political Thought
Religious Legitimacy
Political Identity
Islamic Constitutionalism

Political Islam
Religious Nationalism
Islamic Jurisprudence
Muslim Identity

Cluster XIV: Governance versus Symbolic Power

The speech contrasts

Symbolic authority

with

Effective governance.

Indicators

Large official residences
Administrative absence
Territorial insecurity
Public fear

Connected Concepts

Governance Indicators
Administrative Effectiveness
Political Performance
Institutional Legitimacy

The speech invokes an implicit social contract.

Citizens

Pay taxes
Obey laws
Participate in elections

The State

Provides security
Maintains law and order
Protects territorial integrity
Safeguards civilian life

Connected Concepts

Hobbes
Locke
Rousseau
Modern Constitutional State
Citizenship

Meta-Civilizational Cluster

The State as an Institutional Ecosystem

The speech conceptualizes the state not as a single organization but as an interconnected institutional ecosystem whose stability depends upon every institution performing its constitutionally assigned role.

Interconnected Components

Constitution
Parliament
Executive Government
Judiciary
Police
Military
Taxpayers
Citizens
Electoral System
Provincial Governments

Failure of one institutional component generates cascading failures across governance, security, economic activity, and public confidence, illustrating the characteristics of a Complex Adaptive Political System.

Sarvarthapedia Knowledge Web

Constitutional Governance

→ Separation of Powers

→ Constitutionalism

→ Rule of Law

→ Democratic Accountability

→ Institutional Legitimacy

Security Studies

→ Civil-Military Relations

→ Internal Security

→ Counterinsurgency

→ State Capacity

→ National Defence

→ Intelligence Studies

Political Science

→ State Formation

→ Sovereignty

→ Public Administration

→ Electoral Democracy

→ Political Institutions

Sociology

→ Social Contract

→ Citizenship

→ Human Security

→ Collective Violence

→ Civil Society

Economics

→ Taxation

→ Defence Economics

→ Public Finance

→ Fiscal Accountability

Conflict Studies

→ Terrorism

→ Insurgency

→ Armed Non-State Actors

→ Political Violence

→ Peacebuilding

Islamic Political Thought

→ Political Theology

→ Islamic Constitutionalism

→ Religious Authority

→ Muslim Identity

→ Governance Ethics

Ultimate Cross-Reference Network

Da’irah-e-Ikhtiyar → Constitutional Governance → Separation of Powers → Civilian Supremacy → Democratic Accountability

Muqtadara → Security Establishment → Civil-Military Relations → Deep State → National Security Governance

Hakimiyat → Sovereignty → State Capacity → Rule of Law → Writ of the State

Writ of the State → Internal Security → Police Administration → Counterinsurgency → Territorial Control

Human Security → Education → Livelihood → Freedom of Movement → Public Safety → Human Development

Military Duty → Defence Economics → Public Taxation → Social Contract → Constitutional Responsibility

Lashkar → Militias → Monopoly of Legitimate Violence → State Authority → Security Governance

Electoral Legitimacy → Representative Democracy → Civilian Government → Constitutional Order → Political Accountability

Political Theology → Islamic Political Thought → National Identity → Religious Legitimacy → Constitutional Discourse

Institutional Ecosystem → Complex Adaptive Political System → Governance Networks → State Resilience → Civilizational Stability

Urdu–English Vocabulary (Extracted from Rahaman’s Speech)

Urdu	Transliteration	English Meaning
جمعیت علماء اسلام	Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam	Assembly of Islamic Scholars
پاکستان	Pakistan	Pakistan
مقتدرہ	Muqtadara	Establishment; state establishment
غیر	Ghair	Outsider; stranger
پاکستانی	Pakistani	Pakistani
کلمہ گو	Kalma-go	One who professes the Islamic declaration of faith
بھائی	Bhai	Brother
ملک	Mulk	Country; state
دائرہ	Da’irah	Sphere; limit; boundary
پارلیمنٹ	Parliament	Parliament
محکمہ	Mahkama	Department
دائرۂ اختیار	Da’irah-e-Ikhtiyar	Jurisdiction; sphere of authority
فوج	Fauj	Army; military
ذمہ داری	Zimmedari	Responsibility; duty
اجڑ رہا ہے	Ujar raha hai	Is being ruined; is falling apart
خیبر پختونخوا	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa	Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (province)
حکومت	Hukumat	Government
مغرب	Maghrib	West; sunset
غروب	Ghuroob	Sunset
طلوع	Tulu	Sunrise
پولیس	Police	Police
تھانہ	Thana	Police station
سڑک	Sarak	Road
مسلح	Musallah	Armed
گروہ	Giroh	Group
سپرد	Supurd	Entrusted; handed over
ڈاکو	Daku	Bandit; robber
رحم و کرم	Rahm-o-Karam	Mercy; at the mercy of
حاکمیت	Hakimiyat	Authority; sovereignty
صوبہ	Subah	Province
دارالحکومت	Dar-ul-Hukumat	Capital city
بنگلہ	Bangla	Bungalow
حکمران	Hukmaran	Ruler
حقائق	Haqaiq	Facts; realities
خطابت	Khitabat	Oratory; public speaking
بلوچستان	Balochistan	Balochistan
بلوچ	Baloch	Baloch
بغاوت	Baghawat	Rebellion; insurgency
اختیار	Ikhtiyar	Authority; control
رٹ	Rit	Writ; effective authority of the state
پشتون	Pashtun	Pashtun
خون	Khoon	Blood
لاش	Lash	Dead body; corpse
بازار	Bazaar	Market
پیارے	Pyare	Loved ones
کفن	Kafan	Burial shroud
جنازہ	Janazah	Funeral; funeral prayer
عوام	Awam	People; public
قسمت	Qismat	Fate; destiny
اسکول	School	School
روزی	Rozi	Livelihood
مزدوری	Mazdoori	Wage labour
محفوظ	Mehfooz	Safe; secure
جوان	Jawan	Soldier; young man
شہید	Shaheed	Martyr
پٹی باندھنا	Patti Bandhna	To put on the military headband/uniform (figuratively, to join military service)
تنخواہ	Tankhwah	Salary
سلامتی	Salamati	Security; safety
خون پسینہ	Khoon Paseena	Blood and sweat; hard-earned labour
ٹیکس	Tax	Tax
لشکر	Lashkar	Militia; armed force
اسلحہ	Aslaha	Weapons; arms
سرزمین	Sarzameen	Homeland
نسل	Nasl	Generation
ذاتی دشمنی	Zati Dushmani	Personal enmity
قتل و غارت گری	Qatl-o-Gharatgari	Killing and bloodshed; massacre
سیاست	Siyasat	Politics
وردی	Wardi	Uniform
الیکشن	Election	Election
ووٹ	Vote	Vote
اختیار	Ikhtiyar	Authority; power
حکومت دینا	Hukumat Dena	To install a government
حکومت چھین لینا	Hukumat Chheen Lena	To remove a government from power
امیر	Amir	Chief; President; Leader
مولانا	Maulana	Islamic scholar (honorific)
فضل الرحمان	Fazlur Rehman	Fazlur Rehman
قصور	Kasur	Kasur (city in Punjab)
پنجاب	Punjab	Punjab
جلسہ	Jalsa	Public rally; gathering
خطاب	Khitab	Address; speech