Pakistan, Oct. 17 -- A turban is a mark of learning, not a licence to place politics beyond scrutiny. Maulana Fazlur Rehman would do well to remember this before turning another gathering held in the name of religion into a campaign against the state.

He recently alleged that emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's former tribal districts was designed to surrender their mineral wealth to America. China and Russia, he claimed, were also concerned. Maulana Sahib, where is the evidence? Which agreement transfers ownership? Which Chinese or Russian official has said what you claim? A grave allegation cannot acquire credibility merely because it is delivered from a religious platform.

There is a genuine debate about the province's emergency m...