Actions under NAP: DPC slams government’s ‘duplicity’
Most firebrand leaders of DPC stay away from event
An ASWJ spokesperson said that the organisers had assured the capital’s administration to keep the event local and not invite participants from outside the twin cities. PHOTO: MUDASSAR RAJA/EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Religious leaders, under the umbrella of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), gathered in the middle of Islamabad on Friday and criticised the government for its ‘duplicitous policies’ and slammed actions undertaken against some of their leaders as per the National Action Plan.
These sentiments were largely a reaction to the government which had managed to bar most of the firebrand leaders of the DPC from a rally organised by the Ahle-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) at Aabpara on Friday. The rally had been staged to highlight rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir.
ASWJ leader Ahmed Ludhianvi was the main speaker at the rally and used the occasion to take pot shots at the government for suspending identity cards of DPC leaders which had been placed on the fourth schedule.
“You suspend CNICs of those who love this country and shake hands with those who chant anti-Pakistan slogans,” Ludhianvi said in a veiled swipe at how the government had gone soft on Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers who swore allegiance to MQM-Pakistan chapter in the aftermath of the party’s founder Altaf Hussain raising anti-national slogans back in August.
“Why is it a crime when we change names, but not when you do it,” the ASWJ leader said while referring to the rebranding of the MQM and the interior ministry cracking down on religious parties whose iterations had been included on an official watch list.
The ASWJ leader also reserved some criticism for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned protests in Islamabad, stating that ‘decisions should be made in the parliament not on roads.’
He, however, condemned what he termed the high-handedness of the authorities against PTI workers in Islamabad and followers of Sheikh Rasheed in Rawalpindi.
Referring to his role as a peacemaker, Ludhianvi said that “We have adopted the way of national mainstream. There is no need to come on to roads.”
Ludhianvi also announced that he would contest by-elections for the Punjab Assembly seat of PP-78 in Jhang. Polling for the seat is scheduled for December 1.
Other leaders who spoke at the rally mocked the National Action Plan, stating that putting their leaders on fourth schedule would not stop them in their mission.
Exception
The DPC rally became contentious before it began as the capital administration had a day earlier imposed Section 144 in the city, effectively banning rallies.
However, the DPC was granted an exception and ultimately the event turned out to be a gathering of local ASWJ activists and leaders under the banner of the Sunni Ulema Council.
ASWJ and DPC spokespersons, however, explained the absence of the DPC leadership as logistical issues and the prevailing security environment in the country.
Muhammad Asif, a spokesperson for Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), said the DPC leaders could not attend the event due to certain reasons but stopped short of spelling those reasons out.
An ASWJ spokesperson said that the organisers had assured the capital’s administration to keep the event local and not invite participants from outside the twin cities.
Police said the organisers had obtained an NOC from the administration for the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2016.
Religious leaders, under the umbrella of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), gathered in the middle of Islamabad on Friday and criticised the government for its ‘duplicitous policies’ and slammed actions undertaken against some of their leaders as per the National Action Plan.
These sentiments were largely a reaction to the government which had managed to bar most of the firebrand leaders of the DPC from a rally organised by the Ahle-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) at Aabpara on Friday. The rally had been staged to highlight rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir.
ASWJ leader Ahmed Ludhianvi was the main speaker at the rally and used the occasion to take pot shots at the government for suspending identity cards of DPC leaders which had been placed on the fourth schedule.
“You suspend CNICs of those who love this country and shake hands with those who chant anti-Pakistan slogans,” Ludhianvi said in a veiled swipe at how the government had gone soft on Muttahida Qaumi Movement workers who swore allegiance to MQM-Pakistan chapter in the aftermath of the party’s founder Altaf Hussain raising anti-national slogans back in August.
“Why is it a crime when we change names, but not when you do it,” the ASWJ leader said while referring to the rebranding of the MQM and the interior ministry cracking down on religious parties whose iterations had been included on an official watch list.
The ASWJ leader also reserved some criticism for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned protests in Islamabad, stating that ‘decisions should be made in the parliament not on roads.’
He, however, condemned what he termed the high-handedness of the authorities against PTI workers in Islamabad and followers of Sheikh Rasheed in Rawalpindi.
Referring to his role as a peacemaker, Ludhianvi said that “We have adopted the way of national mainstream. There is no need to come on to roads.”
Ludhianvi also announced that he would contest by-elections for the Punjab Assembly seat of PP-78 in Jhang. Polling for the seat is scheduled for December 1.
Other leaders who spoke at the rally mocked the National Action Plan, stating that putting their leaders on fourth schedule would not stop them in their mission.
Exception
The DPC rally became contentious before it began as the capital administration had a day earlier imposed Section 144 in the city, effectively banning rallies.
However, the DPC was granted an exception and ultimately the event turned out to be a gathering of local ASWJ activists and leaders under the banner of the Sunni Ulema Council.
ASWJ and DPC spokespersons, however, explained the absence of the DPC leadership as logistical issues and the prevailing security environment in the country.
Muhammad Asif, a spokesperson for Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), said the DPC leaders could not attend the event due to certain reasons but stopped short of spelling those reasons out.
An ASWJ spokesperson said that the organisers had assured the capital’s administration to keep the event local and not invite participants from outside the twin cities.
Police said the organisers had obtained an NOC from the administration for the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2016.