An MWM convention held in Islamabad on September 9. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
KARACHI: Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen (MWM), the leading political group for the Shia community in Pakistan, said Sunday that there should not be any negotiations with the Taliban, Express News reported.
Secretary General MWM Raja Nasir Abbas Jafari said this while addressing audience in the Azmat-e-Wilayat Conference at Nishtar Park today.
Allama Ameen Shaheedi said on the occasion that negotiations with militants will only result in more terrorist attacks and more corpses to bury.
The MWM leadership went on to denounce the ongoing operation against criminals in Karachi as a "mere show". They said the Kashmir issue will remain unresolved unless a government truly representative of the citizens takes over.
Jafari also criticised the judiciary for focusing on high-profile cases and ignoring those of the poor and helpless.
Last month, Allama Jafari had said that Pakistani Shia Muslims were on the frontline in the nation’s war against terrorists and thousands have sacrificed their lives for the cause.
He had claimed citing financial, logistic and military aid to the terrorists, that the US in connivance with the Saudi monarchy was using them as proxies to spread terror in Pakistan and across the world.
Yes to talks for Chairman Ulema Council
On the other hand, the Chairman of Ulema Council Pakistan Allama Tahir Ashrafi emphasised on Sunday that the Taliban should be negotiated with, and the talks supervised by the Prime Minister.
Ashrafi, who hails from the Deobandi group of the larger Sunni community, was addressing the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Conference in Multan when he said talks should happen withing the parameters of the constitution.
He demanded an immediate end to US drone attacks on Pakistan's territory.
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COMMENTS (51)
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The cleric is right. TTP is a Salafi/Wahhabi proxy for the Saudis intent on destroying Pakistan as we know it. The sectarian conflict is really a Salafi(Wahhabi) vs Rest of the Muslims conflict. It is time Sunnis and Shias unite to destroy the Wahhabi/Salafi funded monster.
@Rex Minor: The terrorists are not a "people". They are blackmailing murderous thugs. One does not negotiate with exortionists, unless one is a spineless and witless fool.
The question here is not Sunni versus Shia, but Wahabism against Islam, which is the single biggest threat to Islam and humanity.
Poll after poll show that despite President Obama’s rhetorical skills most of us Americans today don’t like his core policies.
This is not a partisan statement … It is a fact that most Americans today have come to despise both mainstream Democratic and mainstream Republican party policies alike.
Specifically, most Americans today:
Believe by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin that big banks and corporations – rather than average Americans – have benefited most from Obama’s economic policies. 2 years ago, 74% thought that the bailouts helped Wall Street more than the people
Want to break up the big banks
Its amusing to see how shia Pakistanis come in defense for Iran than Pakistan :D
Who ever said this no matter wheather a Shia or Sunni , he's a Pakistani and is 100% right. no talks only action.
Peace talks should be offered when Pakistan has an upper hand on the current situation. Under the current circumstances, peace talks are nothing but a surrender to the terrorists.
@Candid1 The Arabs and Iranians have well defined identities anchored in history. By contrast, what is the Pakistani identity ?
@Ariba: and yes ariba iran doesnt do attacks in karachi and baluchistan. You are not defending pakistan but defending iran. Sad to see
@Aftab: According to stats. America has killed equal number of people as supposedly Taliban Attacks. Secondly sectarian violence in Gilgit and Karachi is way different from taliban in tribal areas. Thirdly, we need to look at numbers rather than emotions. but unfortunately we dont want peace we just want people dying. whats wrong with giving taliban an area and saying u do what u want here so we can live in peace in other parts of pakistan. Whats wrong in demanding for america to stop drone attacks. But obviously iran wont want that as will india, and this party is representing not a pakistani agenda . Just like ASWJ, Just like many other religious parties. So its time we stop supporting these small crooks who can easily be bought over on money , fame or their assumed religious commitment to destroy pakistan.
And yes Pakistan is the only muslim country by law in which apart from ahmedis no other sect is discriminated. So by law give this state a due. A look at middle east, IRAN , and many other muslim states will state other wise. we may elect the most curropt people but sect is not sth that comes in between in larger party politics and this stupid party is starting the sad sect war in politics.
@Emran: Yes I think its not worth mentioning of entities that have no say what so ever. Just like ASWJ. These are built to spread sectarianism and cause problems. So yea they are un important and dont deserve limelight. Frankly speaking they have no say whatsoever apart from killing people of either sect.
Truth is that Saudis are bigger players than the Iranians. The Saudis are vastly richer, they are single minded in their agenda, they have a receptive audience in Pakistan and one willing to obey their commands. Yes the Iranians are also intolerant but I don't think they are against the Sufis or want annihilate other sects.
@Candid1: taliban have killed fifty thousand pakistanis! What else difference u need?
@Zog:
Is it not the right of Shia to portray pictures of their religious leaders( Ayatollahs are spiritual guiders of shia muslims)? Not necessary that a person holding such a pictures is not loyal to Pakistan. Multiple identities are sign of strength not weakness..
why the images of leaders of fascist regime who themselves part of globe terrorism factory..digusting
@Zog: sir this is the weakness of the are state ,let all garbage proxy bring in to pakistan.
@Candid1: Pakistan make by Shia and sunni both, and shia in pakistan are pakistani and very Love, like and care of Pakistan, but other end Taliban are not Pakistani and they are not only Man and also not any kind of Muslims. they are only Terrarist and jungly, they Murdereed thousands of Pakistani (Shia and Sunni and also Fources.) so there is no comparrision between Shia and Taliban. Please be careful in future. and think about it.
Negotiate or not negotiate, kill or not kill either by drone or some code name operation that is the question. Somebody is laughing as it is chaos-divide and rule.
@Candid1: Its a bitter truth that Shias of Pakistan (and generally ME) are more loyal to Iran than their home countries.
well,Shia's know what will happen to them under the Taliban Government-a holocaust.
@Ariba: The Iranians have a strategic military alliance with India. Iranian ports will become available to the Indian navy in the event they go to war with Pakistan.
The bottom line is that religion and state need to be separate. Whether you are shia, sunni, hindu, christian, buddhist, ahmedi, parsi, jewish - if you are Pakistani you should be equal under the eyes of the law and the state.
No one cared about if you were sunni or shia in Pakistan till the iranians and saudis decided to have their competition here - they are today fighting their war in Syria through proxies...
Do you want that here?
Had enough of the ayatollahs and wahabi kings proteges in Pakistan!!
Enough is enough. I agree with the chap who said we should have Qaid E Azam's photos or Allama iqbal's photos every where...
Pakistan Zindabad. One Nation - One Blood!
Are we to be dictated by a Sunni ( Wahhabi ) or a Shia ( Irani ) agenda........or by a Pakistani agenda ?? Its time we made up our minds.
Leave this upto the Government to choose the best way as to whom should Government talk and with whom not.
The ultimate goal of the Government is to restore peace and to save the lives and properties of the innocent people.
Let this matter should be dealth alone by the Government, as people have given mandate to the Government on May 11, 2013 general election.
@Ovais: Let us not try to change the truth. Talibans are against Pakistan and both Sunni and Shia Muslims. But they have targeted Shias the most including in tribal areas and supported Jhangi and related groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In fact, they are closely cooperating with these groups in attacking Shias. What surprises me is MWM's late awakening - until recently, they were supporting PTI which has proved to be Taliban's main supporter and spokesman because of their common ethnic identity.
@Candid1: I agree with you. You should also realize that this is the inherent consequence of having a state religion. Nobody in the west would be confused if a political religious group would feature a picture of the pope (although he is also head of state). The separation of state and religion is paramount to guarantee the freedom of religion. It also relieves the government as well as the legislature of endless debates on the explanation of religious texts. Religious parties as well as non-religious parties have to battle in parliament.
Negotiate? Yes. But not now, state needs to wrest the control back and then negotiate to finish them off. Respect for Shias.
Isn't this person spreading sectarian hatred?
@Ovais You have no problem when media publishes a news about TTP every hour, why? because they kill innocent people. And when someone is talking about reality you think its not worth mentioning????
Just wanted to point out, for those criticizing MWM for putting up picture of Iranian leaders, that asides from being statesmen, they are spiritual and religious leaders of Shi'ism. I for one see no problem with them putting their pictures. I'm sure no one would have any problem if they replaced it with pictures of the Dalai Lama. Liberals would gush, no doubt.
@Ali chang: Every one in pakistan have suffered equally from taliban. And yes the tribal areas have suffered more. Sectarian violence and taliban are completely different things. Its time we support Pakistan rather than iran or saudia.
Though I do not agree with all MWM says, I am with them on their stance of "No talks with Talibans". Talks with talibans, to me means Pakistan sharing power with talimabs at the least or talibans ruling entire Pakistan at the worst. Shias know well that if talibans come to power they shall ruthlessly kill shias.
Shias of Pakistan have suffered the most. so they are one of the biggest stake holders. should had been taken into confidence. did not had any representation in any APC
@Candid1: I agree with you. I too thought the same after looking the picture. How come Pakistanis have to look outside for heroes ? Why can't they use Jinnah's pictures? He too was a Shia? These Pakistani Shia politicians remind me of communists world over who used Lenin as their hero. imported heroes never do any good to any country. Time to stop calling Abdalis and Ghoris and Qasims as Pakistan's heroes.
Mullahs and Religious Scholars of all sects are part of the problem. Muslims don't need these dividers.
@Zog: @Candid1: Big difference between Saudia & Iran. Iranian intelligence is not working to destroy Pakistan & has not madrassas. Watch less Anti Shia/Iran propaganda. Not a single evidence that Iran has ever supported rebels inside Pakistan.
Whoever accepts this Ulema's statement for not talking to taliban should also accept when he said
"He had claimed citing financial, logistic and military aid to the terrorists, that the US in connivance with the Saudi monarchy was using them as proxies to spread terror in Pakistan and across the world"
Because this is the reality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2CE0fyz4ys
US supports rebel in syria & accept it openly.
Or just call this ulema a conspiracy theorist if ignorance is bliss.
If the MWM leaders knows any alternative to tackle the Taliban menace the should put it on table as far we know the great Pak Army, Military failed to innahilat Taliban after 11 years of continues operation in Fata and K-P. We must accept the State is weak and cannot end militancy by launching useless military operations in which more innocent civilians dies than the terrorists. An example for those who sees operation a solution to the problem is a contemporary analysis of Military operation in Barra, sub-tehsil of Khyber Agency against a relatively small group of Mangal Bagh (Tuesday Garden) led criminals-cum-militants. despite having in placed the longest curfew (for 4 continues years which is the largest duration of curfew imposed anywhere in the world) the militants are still active at large in the small Tehsil comprising an area not more than 100 km. So we need to talk to them so at least we can know who their leaders are and what they want from us to end their murderous activities.
Must not negotiate with the Talibans yes to my dear shia Muslim brothers/sisters we are here in Ir Pakistan where english elits hold total controle on Ir Pakistan Now they are on loosing slowly they have no any other choice Once Islamic Political Parties turn their back colaborating with the english lobby it's Over for englishmen in Ir Pakistan this may surprise to many but is it not true?!
It is a really dangerous statement. It's like calling Taliban to attack you!
At leasyt someone has their priorities straight n daring enough to express them
regardless of any relegious sect. I agree
A dialogue among people is the only way for reconciliation and accomodation of one people with another, one Nation with another and one politics with another. The alternative to confrontation to violence and wars!!!.
Rex Minor
why is this a major news .. this guy dont have even 10,000 voters... ET stop giving fame to those who are irrelevant... this is not even a news but you guys put it as a major news to show problems in Pakistan.
Sick and tired of Iranian and Saudi stooges in Pakistan fighting their proxy wars.
Sectarian bearded ones, please hawk your rubbish somewhere else, not in Pakistan
One Nation - Pakistan Zindabad
Very true!!
Although I agree with what they are saying about negotiating with Taliban terrorists, I am perturbed by the images of Iranian leaders by a party claiming to be representative of Pakistanis. Such adulation of foreign leaders is unacceptable; are they loyal to Pakistan or to Iran? In the final analysis, how are they different from the Taliban? The Talibans worship the Saudis, and these guys worship Iranians, but who cares about Pakistanis?