Who is the pro-Taliban maulana challenging Asim Munir: Drop uniform, join politics
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a prominent Pakistani Islamist politician, has publicly challenged the military's political influence by calling for Field Marshal Asim Munir to resign from his post if he wishes to enter politics. Rehman is known for his historical ties to the Taliban and opposition to military rule.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between civilian political leaders and the military establishment in Pakistan.
"If you want to do politics, then take off the uniform and come; participate in the elections, and it will become clear how many votes those in uniform receive." With these words, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of one of Pakistan's largest political parties, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), has become one of Pakistan's most significant political figures to openly challenge the de facto political dominance of Pakistan by Field Marshal Asim Munir and the military's outsized influence over the country's politics.Fazlur Rehman is the son of Mufti Mahmud, founder of the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam party, and former Chief Minister of the North-West Frontier Province (now called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
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