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PTI likely poll partner 'Mistrust' pushing JI away from 'N'
[Dawn] Though in contact with both the Pakistain Mohammedan League (Nawaz) and Tehrik-e-insaf, the Jamaat-e-Islami... The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... finds the PTI more suitable for an electoral alliance. Speaking at a convention of his party candidates here at Mansoora on Sunday, JI Ameer (head)  Syed Munawar Hassan... The funny-looking Amir of the Pak Jamaat-e-Islami. He joined the National Students Federation (NSF), a lefty student body, and was elected its President in 1959. He came into contact with the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Pakistan and studied the writings of Mawlana Syed Abul Ala Maududi, The Great Apostasizer.As a result, he joined IJT in 1960 and soon he was elected as President of its University of Karachi Unit and member of the Central Executive Council. He was Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistain in 1992-93, and became Secretary General in 1993. After years of holding Qazi's camel he was named Amir when the old man stepped down in 2009... said his party workers did not have a good opinion about the PML-N, given the party's track record. "The JI workers are very sensitive to the present political situation of the country, as they are observing the on-going developments keenly. Keeping in view their (workers') feedback the JI leadership is of the view that as the previous record of the PML-N with reference to certain political commitments is not so good, the electoral alliance with the PTI will be better," Mr Hasan said. He, however, said that though the JI was in contact with the PTI through various meetings the parties were holding, a final decision on entering into an electoral alliance with the party was yet to be taken. The JI head, admitting that both the PML-N and PTI enjoyed considerable influence in Punjab, regretted that the former's leadership was behaving unwisely. "With reference to Punjab, the PML-N and the PTI are very important parties. But we have certain reservations about the past behaviour of the PML-N. And even now the PML-N leadership's behaviour seems to be childish, as Mian  Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... who is a national leader is not fulfilling his commitments he has been making with the nation on various national issues in his public rallies and press statements. Recently, he (Mian Sahib) said the PML-N would soon call an 'All Parties Conference' on the issue of Balochistan  ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... . But, he didn't do anything in this regard." Similarly, Mr Hasan also criticised Nawaz Sharif for not taking on board other parties with regard to launching an anti-government movement or so-called 'long march'. "He (Nawaz Sharif) had said that he would invite all opposition parties to jointly initiate a long march against the government. But, again he didn't contact any party in this regard," Munawar Hasan added. He said the JI leadership believed it should be very careful if it decided joining hands with the PML-N in future. But, there was a consensus among the JI circles that the PTI would be a better option than the PML-N for forging an electoral alliance, he added. On revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Mr Hasan said his party had strong reservations about JUI-F chief  Maulana Fazlur RehmanDeobandi holy man, known as Mullah Dieselduring the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ... who, he said, had a 'soft corner' for the PPP-led government. "We are very astonished that on one hand Maulana Sahib talks about MMA's revival, while on the other he was not ready to leave chairmanship of Kashmire Committee. Besides, the JUI-F is also enjoying membership of the Islamic Ideological Council, another official body," he deplored. He said the Maulana wanted that MMA should be revived without going deep into the reasons behind its collapse in the past. Mr Fazl also didn't want to discuss electoral seat adjustment prior to MMA's revival. "So we want Maulana to immediately announce his party's disassociation with the government and resolve all issues with us (JI) if he is serious in reviving MMA. We want to ensure these things to avoid another collapse of MMA (if revived) in future," the JI chief said. He, however, said in the present scenario the chances of MMA's revival were becoming bleaker due to JUI-F chief's behaviour. Posted by: Fred 2012-05-08 |
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