Hafiz Saeed inaugurates MML office in NA-120

Saeed confirmed JuD would contest 2018 general elections under banner of MML

LAHORE: In an unexpected move that took many political observers by surprise, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, the chief of banned Jamaatud Dawa (JuD), inaugurated the office of JuD’s political arm Milli Muslim League (MML) on the Mohni Road in NA-120 here.

With general elections scheduled to be held in 2018, political parties have unofficially kicked off their campaigns, especially in constituencies considered central to national politics and NA-120 is no different in this regard.



This constituency is considered to be one of the strongholds of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

During the recent by-election, this constituency saw the entry of contestants who earlier used to avoid entering political limelight.

JuD is still a banned organisation and its chief was under house arrest for better part of this year.

Recently, the federal interior ministry had opposed MML’s registration.

Hafiz Saeed’s spokesperson told The Express Tribune that he toured various areas of Lahore on Monday.

“He also visited NA-120 and spent between four and five hours addressing people in various localities,” he said, adding, “later he visited the office of independent candidate Muhammad Yaqub Sheikh and officially inaugurated the (MML’s) office.”

Interestingly, MML was not allowed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take part in the NA-120 by-election, prompting its candidate to participate in the by-poll as an independent contender. Surprisingly, the MML candidate garnered more than twice the combined tally of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami.



Hafiz Saeed, his spokesperson said, maintained that JuD would support the MML, which would take part in the 2018 general elections.

He also said he believed that India was forcing Pakistan’s government to abandon the Kashmir cause “which is not possible” and this was the right time to enter national politics to persuade the world community by establishing an independent foreign desk to highlight the Kashmir cause.

“After winning elections, MML will be able to work decisively for the Kashmir cause … This is why I support it,” said Hafiz Saeed.

Accusing India, United States and Israel of hatching a conspiracy against Pakistan, he said that it was crucial for all Pakistanis to forge unity to secure national sovereignty.

“We are here to create harmony among all Pakistanis irrespective of their caste and religion,” he said.

Although the MML was unable to secure a significant number of votes, it still might act as a force of attrition, depriving PML-N of a significant number of votes in alliance with other like-minded political groups.