| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| JI fails to woo hardline group |
| 2013-04-22 |
| [Dawn] In an unexpected development, 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... (JI) candidates in Islamabad have failed to woo rightwing Sunni group -- Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat ...which is the false nose and plastic mustache of the murderous bannedextremist group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistain, whatcha might call the political wingof Lashkar-e-Jhangvi... (ASWJ) -- despite the fact that the latter had in principle announced to challenge the PML-N at all fronts in the upcoming elections. The JI candidates Mian Aslam (NA-48) and Mohammad Zubair Farooq (NA-49) held a special meeting with the central leadership of ASWJ in a mosque at G-9 Markaz after Friday prayers led by Masoodur Rehman Usmani, the central deputy secretary general of the ASWJ. Mr Usmani is also the acting in-charge of the party affairs in Rawalpindi division. However, nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits... he extended a conditional support to the JI candidates. "We have a strong block votes in both the constituencies and have a natural support for Jamaat, but they (JI) should also support our candidate for the provincial assembly in Murree," said Mohammad Tayyab Hydri, the secretary information of ASWJ Islamabad. The ASWJ leaders told the guests that they had around 12,000 to 15,000 votes in both NA-48 and NA-49. "Mian Aslam won the previous elections only because PML-N was not in form but now beating a sitting MNA -- Anjum Aqeel -- is not easy," the ASWJ office-bearer said. "Blocks votes like ours are very important under this scenario." Mr Usmani said his party was interested in having adjustment with the JI not only because they were a religious party but also because the ASWJ was opposing the PML-N due to its support to Sheikh Waqas against their party head Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi in Jhang. Mr Usmani told the JI leaders that PML-N had always been asking us for support when they were in government and it was an understanding that the PML-N would support ASWJ in elections 2013. "Now after Sheikh Waqas has become controversial, the PML-N has given ticket to his father Sheikh Mohammad Akram from Jhang city," the ASWJ office-bearer said. But the support to JI in Islamabad is conditional with the ASWJ's demanded that JI withdraw their Punjab provincial assembly candidate Sajjad Abbassi from PP-1. A local office-bearer of ASWJ told Dawn that his party candidate Ishtiaq Abbassi had a firm standing in PP-1, and if there was a push from the JI he would be ensured of success 'even before the polls.' However, nothing needs reforming like other people's bad habits... sources in the Jamaat-e-Islami said both the candidates had expressed their limitations to comply with the conditions set by ASWJ leader Usmani. "The ASWJ was told that the issue was not only related to a different district but a different province too as Murree was in Punjab and the high command of the party had to be approached over the matter," said the JI office-bearer in Islamabad. |
| Posted by:Fred |