Asif rebukes Fazl over soldiers' sacrifices remarks

ISLAMABAD:

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday slammed JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman over his remarks about military personnel, deploring them as "morally insensitive".

He said that linking soldiers' sacrifices to their salaries was unfair and deeply hurtful to the families of martyrs.

Responding to the JUI-F chief's statement, Asif said that the Maulana, as a seasoned politician and distinguished religious leader, was expected to exercise greater responsibility in his choice of words.

He stressed that no one lays down his life merely for a salary, particularly at a time when Pakistan continues to wage a war against terrorism.