Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has firmly rejected calls to apologize for controversial comments about security personnel, asserting that his criticism targets policymakers, not the military institution itself. Speaking at a party lawyers' convention in Islamabad on Sunday, the veteran politician framed the uproar as a deliberate campaign to misrepresent his stance and damage his party's reputation. Main Developments Fazlur Rehman's remarks at a political gathering in Kasur last week touched on security and terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, drawing widespread condemnation from ruling party ministers and political leaders who demanded an apology. Instead, the JUI-F chief doubled down during his Sunday address, insisting his statements were aimed at those "at the helm of affairs" rather than soldiers or the institution. He argued that he merely reminded the security establishment of its constitutional responsibilities and that disagreement over policy should not be conflated with hostility toward the state. The Maulana also touched on the delayed registration of religious seminaries, noting that a 2004-2005 agreement had yet to be implemented. Read also: Why Karachi's K-IV Water Project Remains Stalled After 21 Years Background Fazlur Rehman leads the JUI-F, a religious political party with significant influence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. His latest comments come amid rising terrorism in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region where his party has historically maintained a strong presence. The JUI-F chief has a long history of contentious relations with successive governments. In his Sunday speech, he claimed the current administration was a "product of electoral rigging" and revealed that his party had rejected offers to join the government in Balochistan or replace the PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Why It Matters The refusal to apologize underscores a growing rift between political leaders and security institutions over the handling of terrorism and constitutional boundaries. Fazlur Rehman's insistence on distinguishing between institutional respect and policy criticism challenges the prevailing narrative that equates dissent with disloyalty. His call for an in-camera parliamentary session on the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa highlights the urgency of addressing terrorism in the region, where several of his own party comrades have fallen victim to attacks. What's Next Fazlur Rehman has signaled no intention of retreating from his position, vowing not to backtrack under pressure. The demand for a closed-door parliamentary debate on the deteriorating security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's southern districts remains unaddressed by the government. The delayed registration of religious seminaries, a long-standing issue tied to the 2004-2005 agreement, also awaits resolution, with no clear timeline for implementation.