Pro-Taliban cleric challenges Pakistan army chief to quit uniform and contest polls

The challenge that shook Rawalpindi

A senior Pakistani lawmaker and religious leader has thrown down the gauntlet to the country's most powerful man. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), has publicly asked Army Chief General Asim Munir to take off his uniform and contest elections.

"Why don't you remove your uniform and contest elections? If you are so popular, come fight on a political platform," Rehman said in remarks that quickly made headlines. The cleric-turned-politician has a history of challenging military authority, but this direct attack on the army chief marks a rare escalation.

Rehman is no ordinary MP. He leads JUI-F, a religious-political party with deep roots in Pakistan's madrasa network and a long record of pro-Taliban rhetoric. He has been a fixture in the country's political scene for decades, often playing kingmaker in coalition governments.

Who is Fazlur Rehman?

Rehman comes from a family of Deobandi clerics. His father, Mufti Mahmud, was a key figure in Pakistan's Islamist movement and served as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Fazlur Rehman inherited both the religious mantle and the political ambition.

He has led the JUI-F since 2002 and has been a vocal supporter of the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan. Critics often accuse him of harbouring sympathies for militant groups. Rehman himself has never shied away from praising the Taliban's rule, calling it a model of Islamic governance.

His party enjoys considerable influence in the restive border regions near Afghanistan. The JUI-F runs thousands of seminaries that produce clerics and activists loyal to its brand of conservative politics.

A calculated or reckless move?

Rehman's challenge comes at a time when civil-military tensions in Pakistan are simmering. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's prolonged confrontation with the army has already destabilised the political landscape. Rehman appears to be positioning himself as the next leading voice against military overreach.

But not everyone is applauding his remarks. Rana Sanaullah, a senior PML-N leader, called Rehman's comments against martyrs 'inappropriate' but said they were unintended. The statement highlights the delicate balancing act politicians must perform when criticising the army, a red line in Pakistan's political culture.

Rehman's gamble could backfire. The army has traditionally wielded the final say in Pakistan's political affairs, and direct challenges from clerics have rarely ended well. However, Rehman knows he can rally his conservative base behind anti-military rhetoric, especially in the volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

General Asim Munir has not responded to the challenge. The army's media wing has remained silent, suggesting the institution is treating Rehman's remarks as beneath notice. But silence does not mean inaction. The army has long memories when it comes to politicians who cross the line.

What lies ahead

The coming weeks will reveal whether Rehman's challenge is a genuine political move or a rhetorical flourish. If he pushes harder, the country could see fresh instability. If he backs down, his credibility among hardliners takes a hit. Either way, Pakistan's civil-military divide just got a new flashpoint.