JI chief had said in a recent television interview that if an American who died on the battlefield was not a martyr, then his backers were also not martyrs, because they were chasing the same goal. PHOTO: FILE
Within 24 hours of Pakistan Army’s angry rejoinder to a controversial statement by the Jamaat-e-Islami amir, the party’s Shura (consultative body) pored over the issue during a meeting on Monday.
Though no formal clarification was issued as was demanded in the Inter-Services Public Relations statement, JI leaders said their party considered everyone who dies fighting for the country a martyr (Shaheed).
The Shura meeting – which was chaired by JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan – agreed that the armed forces have no right to interfere in politics or democratic issues. Briefing the media after the meeting, JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch said the Shura decided to draw the government’s attention to the matter because the military’s interference in politics was unacceptable.
According to him, the Shura wondered how the military brass could ignore several resolutions of the JI and policy statements of its chief paying tributes to the martyrs of the armed forces, including the martyrs of Salala and Upper Dir.
The party’s leaders reiterated their demand that Pakistan pull out of the ‘US war’ as it was a continuation of the policy of military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
While talking to The Express Tribune, JI Deputy Secretary General Dr Farid Paracha sought to play down the issue which, he said, was created by some media outlets. “Since the JI considers everyone, whether he’s a militaryman or civilian, who dies while defending the country a martyr, there is no need to issue a separate clarification,” he said.
The controversy was stoked by what the JI chief said in a recent television interview that if an American who died on the battlefield was not a martyr, then his backers were also not martyrs, because they were chasing the same goal.
Angered by Hassan’s veiled reference to personnel of Pakistan’s security forces, the ISPR said on Sunday that the JI should “clearly state its party position on the subject”.
Dr Paracha, however, said the JI chief didn’t explicitly say that the military personnel who laid down their lives for the country were not martyrs. Therefore, he added, this is no question of issuing a clarification.
JI’s deputy chief Dr Muhammad Kamal said his party has always expressed solidarity with the armed forces whether it was the 1965 and 1971 wars with India, or the deadly Nato air raids on Salala border posts. While talking to The Express Tribune, he blamed the ANP and MQM for quoting Munawar Hassan’s statement out of context.
He reiterated that any Pakistan – whether he’s a civilian or a military man – who dies defending the country is a martyr. However, he added that those who accepted dollars from the US and died fighting were not martyrs.
According to Dr Kamal, the meeting agreed that the armed forces could not directly ask the JI for a clarification.
“The armed forces should ask us through the prime minister,” he added. When asked, Dr Kamal said his party has not sent any message to the army in writing but conveyed its message through the media.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2013.
COMMENTS (17)
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Extremely well worded and elucidated Hasan Mehmood.
Thank you
@M. Emad: {Mr. Syed Munawar Hassan: don’t change your stance. Sharia ia Sharia}
Would you like to elaborate which Sharia we are talking about? The one which sanctions butchering captured soldiers, blasting mosques and shrines, killing innocents in markets, destroying strategic Army assets, kidnapping for ransom, looting banks, forced marriage to mujahadeens and so on. Because that is the Shariat of Taliban. While on the topic since they are so damn serious about Shariat that they are willing to die and kill indiscriminately for it, do they they have a single religious scholar among their ranks who is well versed in Fiqah and has the title of Mufti / Mujtehad and is willing to own their tactics. Surely you cannot have the lofty aim of Sharia Implementation with the basic Madrassah education and without a single book, thesis or treatise on the issue. And finally is there a Sharia version acceptable to all at least in theory if not in practice. As far as I know the Sharia version being peddled by these religious barbarians represent a fringe sub sect of Sunni Islamic thought with zero tolerance and sanctioned slaughter of the rest.
Editor ET: It's all about Shariat. Drones are a convenient distraction. So please post my comment. Thanks
@Ricky: That is the problem my friend. People think God did not give out the rules of positive politics and how to run a country That is why people keep religion away from politics. However, this is not true.
Can anybody stand-up, and uproot the tongue of this extremist.
@vasan: Agreed, JI has become THE JOKE OF THE DAY (hopefully week, month, year, decade)!!!
time to shut these guys down. Take a page from the Bangladeshi citizens. They are a relic who have no relevance in today's political landscape.
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: May Allah guide you!
Joke of the day : "Briefing the media after the meeting, JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch said the Shura decided to draw the government’s attention to the matter because the military’s interference in politics was unacceptable."
@naeem khan Manhattan,Ks: Unlike the USA which was a land of the apaches, Pakistan had no founding fathers per say. For thousands of years people have lived in this land and have lived several civilisations.
Re Minor
JI Opposed the creation of Pakistan Maybe Bangladesh is doing the right thing. Outlaw all religious political parties.
"However, he added that those who accepted dollars from the US and died fighting were not martyrs"
How about Riyals or any other gulf currency? I think working for Saudies is equally bad.
JI is full of Master debators....
They are world champion master debators
Cant all these bearded ones re locate to Afghanistan!
So are the Mujahideen who fought the Soviets not shaheed because they were funded by the CIA?
It is a shame that the religious parties are involved in politics. It is equally shameful that paid govt servants are involved in direct politics instead of following orders and protecting the frontiers.
Mr. Syed Munawar Hassan: don't change your stance. Sharia ia Sharia.
And why are religious parties involve in politics any way, unfortunately the founding fathers did not see it coming that religious leader will interfere in the administration of running the government. Western countries has seen this curse long time ago and they saw to it that State and Religion must not mix which was the wisest thing to do. These religious parties should concentrate on religious teachings and not be part of politics, most of these so called religious leaders are using religion to perpetuate their hold on the citizens and now we see the violence comes with their religious teachings. Some of them are actively imposing their brand of religion on the rest of the country whether the nation like it or not but they are adamant that they know best, it started from Khyber and spreading to Karachi. There is no shortage of hypocrisy in the religious circles of Pakistan. Some of them are killing the innocent in the name of Islam and God, if this is not hypocrisy then what is it.
JI is irrelevant. They hardly receive any votes, its all this foolhardy rhetoric that keeps them relevant.