The Jamaat-i-Islami ameer on Wednesday stressed the importance of dialogue with the Taliban, saying that Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat were once been labelled terrorists but were later acknowledged as democratic leaders.
Syed Munawwar Hasan was addressing the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) at Aiwan-i-Adl.
He demanded that the military operation in South Waziristan be stopped and dialogue started. “Dialogue is the only way to steer the country out of [war],” said Hasan, “every problem can be settled at a table.”
The JI ameer said that peace would return to Pakistan when America leaves the country.
Hasan said Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani needed to take the nation into confidence about the military operation and explain what the military had lost and achieved.
He said the military was responsible for the widening gap between the people and the army. “ISPR press releases hide facts,” he said. “Why isn’t the media allowed to report from those areas?”
Hasan praised the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the Asghar Khan case, saying that the Chief Justice of Pakistan had, one again, given the nation hope.
The JI chief ruled out the possibility of free and fair elections under President Asif Ali Zardari.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1714024018-0/ModiLara-(1)1714024018-0-270x192.webp)
What what what?? That was liberation and apartheid. This is suicide bombing and murder of little girls. Shame on you Munawar Hasan.
Thank God Yasser Arafat is no more and please dont send this news to Mandela...He might commit suicide after hearing this....
Arafat and Mandela are known for their non-violent approach to fight against injustice.... Even the firebrand leader Malcolm X never resorted to violence for getting his demands fulfilled....
What next?? Call Gandhi and Martin Luther King as terrorists??
Mandela was a Gandhian and should not be brought into this discussion at all. Arafat was intially a terrorist who had vowed the destruction of Israel who became practical during his decades as a paraiah - but during that period his organization contributed to multiple terrorist attacks and actually propogated violence and instability in many Arab nations - Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. In 1988 he accepted the existence of Israel and was rewarded soon after with the Nobel Peace Prize along with Shimon Peres and Yitzak Rabin, who also responded by recognizing the PLO. Without a mutual give and take, it is impossible for a terrorist organization to change its reputation - so what can Pakistan give the TTP now except that which Mahabali offered Vamana for his third step?
Dear Munnu mian, Mandela abandoned violence. He pursued his struggle against apartheid to success through non-violenct methods. It sounds enlightening to hear that violent groups are part of us. It is through deep listening that their needs could be understood. In the next breath you cast America out of your net of humanity. Please examine your position. Regards. Malik Rashid
There can be no dialogue with terrorists
@p r sharma
So did mandela and Yasir Arafat as per the opposing govt. Don't get me wrong I don't want any dialogues with TTP. But your argument is weak.
Aha! There it is - a learned civil society voice!! The only Nation who called Mandela a terrorist is South African Apartheid regime! Yasir Arafat was called a terrorist only by Israel.
But, taliban, TTP, Al-qaeda, LeT are recognized as terror groups by UN, after voting by multiple countries.
In any case - It is no surprise. There are folks who will think Taliban and TTP are indeed Freedom Fighters like Nelson mandela!!!! Heh! 'freedom fighters' who would take a dingy by sea to Mumbai and kill hundreds in hotels and a railway station in Mumbai. Freedom Fighter who'd shoot at a 14 year old girl, because she disagreed with them.
Brave freedom fighters indeed! Do talk to them - makes for a good spectacle.
there is a need to differentiate between Mandela, Yaseer Arafat & TTP . TTP is fighting against own country which has democratic Parliament , representing the people of the country with free process of election.
TTP/ Taliban is not comparable with them.