Pakistan Cleric Fazl-ur-Rehman Claims Threat To Life, Takes On Military Establishment | Exclusive

Last Updated:May 21, 2026, 15:35 IST

The chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl said the country had become a ‘hostage’ under what he described as a ‘civil-military hybrid regime’

A fresh political storm has erupted in Pakistan after senior religious leader and opposition figure Maulana Fazlur Rehman publicly alleged that the country’s powerful military establishment could be behind threats to his life.

Addressing a public gathering in Karachi, the chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) claimed he had been receiving threatening calls and letters, warning that “if I am killed tomorrow, the establishment will be responsible". His remarks mark one of the sharpest recent attacks by a mainstream Pakistani opposition leader on the country’s security establishment.

Fazl-ur-Rehman also launched a sweeping critique of Pakistan’s political and foreign policy direction, saying the country had become a “hostage" under what he described as a “civil-military hybrid regime". He argued that Islamabad’s ties with both India and Afghanistan had deteriorated, claiming both borders were effectively closed because of the government’s “negative policies". He further alleged that even China no longer trusted Pakistan.

The veteran cleric also attempted to position himself as a broader voice of Muslim political resistance in the region, urging Arab nations to build an “Islamic bloc" against Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Referring to the war in the Middle East, he accused Israel of expanding aggression across the region and claimed Pakistan itself could eventually come under threat.

Alongside the rhetoric, Fazl-ur-Rehman announced a nationwide protest movement beginning May 22 against soaring inflation and what he called the government’s failed domestic and foreign policies.

The remarks are significant because they echo allegations earlier made by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and his PTI party, both of whom have repeatedly accused Pakistan’s military establishment of political engineering and targeting opposition figures. Pakistan’s army remains one of the country’s most powerful institutions, with critics long alleging that civilian politics functions within limits set by the military leadership.

Security analysts, however, note that Fazl-ur-Rehman is also a seasoned opposition politician known for using aggressive rhetoric to consolidate support among his conservative Deobandi base and increase pressure on the government during periods of political instability.

News world Pakistan Cleric Fazl-ur-Rehman Claims Threat To Life, Takes On Military Establishment | Exclusive

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