Last Updated on October 29, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN REPORT
ISLAMABAD (Oct 29): Federal ministers on Thursday pushed back against Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s criticism of a high-profile quadrilateral huddle in Tehran, clarifying that the diplomatic session was entirely divorced from defense affairs.
The government’s response, delivered by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, followed a sharp, sarcastic address by Maulana Fazlur Rehman in the National Assembly on Wednesday. The opposition leader had openly questioned the hierarchy of Pakistan’s representation at the summit, mocking the defense minister’s absence while highlighting the presence of the interior minister alongside top military and intelligence chiefs.
“The meeting was not related to defense,” Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated, explaining that his presence was fundamentally unnecessary given the non-military nature of the diplomatic agenda. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi defended his participation, outlines administrative and security imperatives that required his presence at the regional table.
The legislative friction stems from an extraordinary diplomatic assembly hosted by Iran, which brought together senior leadership from Tehran and the member nations of the Makkah Defense Alliance (Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye).
The high-level session featured Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin. The Iranian delegation was led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
According to an official joint statement, the four-nation huddle focused on broader geopolitical stability, with all sides agreeing to “continue their dialogue to bolster cooperation among the four regional nations, including in the areas of regional peace and security.”
During Wednesday’s lower house session, the JUI-F chief used the strategic huddle to take a series of biting political swipes at the treasury benches. Pointing directly toward the defense minister amid a chorus of desk-thumping and laughter, Rehman quipped: “A defense pact is taking shape in Iran, a meeting is under way, and the defense minister is sitting here.”
Turning his focus to Naqvi, the opposition chief questioned the administrative logic of the delegation, asking the assembly, “The interior minister is required there as well?”
In his closing jab, Rehman weaponized Asif’s own famous political catchphrase originally directed at the opposition against him. “There is your respect and stature. koi sharam hoti hai, koi haya hoti hai (have some shame, show some modesty),” Rehman said, breaking into laughter as the opposition benches cheered.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
