The 'defence of Pakistain rally' witnessed a gathering of Jihadi groups, radical Islamists, sectarian warriors and even some mashaikh.
Apart from various rightwing or pro-rightwing groups belonging to Pakistain Defence Council, comprising 44 politico-religious parties, the rally was also participated by the leadership of two Rawalpindi-based factions of Pakistain Mohammedan League and two former army generals. Almost all the speakers threatened to take over Islamabad by force if the NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
supplies were restored and India was granted the MFN (most favoured nation) status.
The rally was also attended by 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 close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. 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...
chief
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...
, Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, the president of Mohammedan Conference and former president of AJK, and ex-COAS Gen (retired) Aslam Beg.
About 10,000 to 15,000 people, including those from many districts of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
, attended the rally. Those who came from distant places expressed the confidence that the rally would pave the way towards ideological and political illusory sovereignty of the country which they believed was lacking.
"This will show the Americans that we are united like Taliban of Afghanistan for our independence," said Umar Gul, of Tehrik Irshad-i-Tauheed wa Sunnah, who came from Swabi. He said such show of strength would stop drone attacks.
Meanwhile,
...back at the scene of the crime, Lieutenant Queeg had an idea: there was a simple way to tell whether Manetti had been the triggerman -- just look at his shoes!...
one worker of Ahle Sunnah Wal Jamaat (former Sipah-i-Sahaba), who came from Narang Mandi of Mandi Bahauddin, said they wanted the restriction on their party lifted.
"This is unfair and all done at the behest of Americans as the US is afraid of Islamic revolution in Pakistain," he said.
Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Ijazul Haq criticised the religious leadership for not being united and having strong discord in their ranks.
"There are active conspiracies against the country but they are all successful only because of disagreement among the Islamists. It will all end the day Maulana Samiul Haq votes for
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 ...
and vice versa," said Sheikh Rashid, the president of Awami Mohammedan League.
Spearheaded by Hafiz Saeed, leader of Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), the umbrella organization of the banned Lashkar-i-Taiba, the gathering also showcased the organizational strength of JuD as its workers managed all the arrangements, including security of the stage and the venue as a whole.
However,
nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits...
none of the parties or the participants displayed weapons while armed police personnel were seen around Liaquat Bagh and at the stage.
It may be noted that the Defence of Pakistain Council was created in the wake of the NATO attack on Salala checkpost in
Mohmand... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar...
Agency under the patronage of chief of his own faction of Jamaat Ulema-i-Islam, Maulana Samiul Haq.
Addressing the gathering, Maulana Samiul Haq took oath from the participants that the Islamists would surround the parliament if the government reopened the NATO supply routes.
"Jehad against the US aggressors will continue in Afghanistan till the American forces are forced to retreat back," said the Maulana.
Meanwhile,
...back at the scene of the crime, Lieutenant Queeg had an idea: there was a simple way to tell whether Manetti had been the triggerman -- just look at his shoes!...
JuD leader Hafiz Saeed dispelled the impression created by other speakers that the rally could provide a platform to Islamist rightwing groups or his entry into national politics.
"We are neither a political alliance nor having any aim to overthrow the government but only want an end to American interference in Pakistain. America cannot
be Pakistain's friend."
He added that the Taliban in Afghanistan and the people of Pakistain were one entity, adding: "We are all in Jehad against the US aggressors."
He also warned the government against granting MFN status to India. "I tell you that an aggressive movement will be launched if any interest of sacred land (Pakistain) is compromised for India."
The rally also provided a chance to the banned beturbanned goon groups to show their presence in the public -- one reception stall was established by Ahle Sunnah wal Jamaat showcasing its old name Sipah Sahaba Pakistain (SSP) which has been banned, and the workers were openly distributing party flags to the participants.
Some even paid tributes to the banned groups, saying they had suffered at the hands of policy makers and were now ready to render sacrifices for defence of the country.
"The leaders of the country should see that those who had been banned and persecuted for 10 years are now at the forefront to defend the country," Gen (retired)
Hamid GulThe nutty former head of Pakistain's ISI, now Godfather to Mullah Omar's Talibs and good buddy and consultant to al-Qaeda's high command...
said.
"The decision taken by our leaders to please the Americans has only caused sufferings for Mohammedan nation in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistain and elsewhere."
The former head of ISI said people were being called to defend the country because successive governments and politicians did not do their job well during the last 10 years.
"We have strong presence of 2.5 million ex-servicemen who will come out and along with the courageous Islamists free Islamabad of the US agents," he added.
The speakers said the public meeting was aimed to give a message of solidarity with the Paks and make a call for independent foreign and internal policies.
While being a strong opponent of taking pictures of living beings on religious grounds, Hafiz Saeed was seen talking on camera with the foreign media.
Though strong speeches and powerful rhetoric were witnessed against the government and politicians for their proposals to reopen NATO supply routes and grant MFN status to India, the leaders of the Islamic groups refrained from criticising the armed forces.