Undeterred by ISPR: Hassan stands by controversial remarks
Hassan had said that if an American who died on battlefield is not a martyr, then his backers are also not martyrs.
JI chief Syed Munawwar Hasan. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE:
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ameer Syed Munawar Hassan stated that his statement regarding the Pakistan Army is correct according to Sharia Law during a party session held in Lahore on Monday, Express News reported.
JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch and senior JI leader Fareed Piracha were also present at the session, which was held to specifically discuss the Pakistan army's response to Hassan calling the slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah a 'martyr.'
Moreover, in a recent TV programme the JI chief had reportedly said 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. This was implicitly directed towards the Pakistan Army.
"The Pakistan army does not have the right to make political or democratic statements," stated JI General Secretary Liaquat Baloch to the media right after the meeting convened, adding that they will not accept army intervention in politics.
“[The JI] is ready to make any sacrifice to ensure national security and free Pakistan from American slavery,” Baloch further stated.
People with narrow mindsets are engaging in unnecessary arguments and distracting people from important demands such as shutting down Nato supplies and stopping drone attacks, he added.
ISPR's Response
In a rare rejoinder to a political leader’s statement, the Pakistan Army on November 10 had strongly condemned remarks byMunawar Hassan and demanded an ‘unconditional apology’ from him.
“Syed Munawar Hassan has tried to invent a logic based on his political convenience. Strong condemnation of his views from an overwhelming majority leaves no doubt in any one’s mind that all of us are very clear on what the state of Pakistan is and who its enemies are,” a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said.
The army’s statement had further said: “The sacrifices of our shuhada [martyrs] and their families need no endorsement from Munawar Hassan and such misguided and self-serving statements deserve no comments.”
It had stated that Munawar Hassan’s statement was both painful and unfortunate as it came from the head of “a party founded by Maulana Maududi, who is respected and revered for his services to Islam”.
The ISPR release had further added that the people of Pakistan – whose loved ones laid down their lives while fighting terrorism and families of martyrs of the armed forces demand an unconditional apology from JI chief for hurting their feelings.
Sindh lawmakers
Members of the Sindh Assembly, while speaking to the media, criticised Hasan’s statements.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Faisal Sabswari, Rauf Siddiqui, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and Sindh Education Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro called the JI leader’s remark an insult to those who have lost their lives while defending the country.
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[poll id="1253"]
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) ameer Syed Munawar Hassan stated that his statement regarding the Pakistan Army is correct according to Sharia Law during a party session held in Lahore on Monday, Express News reported.
JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch and senior JI leader Fareed Piracha were also present at the session, which was held to specifically discuss the Pakistan army's response to Hassan calling the slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah a 'martyr.'
Moreover, in a recent TV programme the JI chief had reportedly said 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. This was implicitly directed towards the Pakistan Army.
"The Pakistan army does not have the right to make political or democratic statements," stated JI General Secretary Liaquat Baloch to the media right after the meeting convened, adding that they will not accept army intervention in politics.
“[The JI] is ready to make any sacrifice to ensure national security and free Pakistan from American slavery,” Baloch further stated.
People with narrow mindsets are engaging in unnecessary arguments and distracting people from important demands such as shutting down Nato supplies and stopping drone attacks, he added.
ISPR's Response
In a rare rejoinder to a political leader’s statement, the Pakistan Army on November 10 had strongly condemned remarks byMunawar Hassan and demanded an ‘unconditional apology’ from him.
“Syed Munawar Hassan has tried to invent a logic based on his political convenience. Strong condemnation of his views from an overwhelming majority leaves no doubt in any one’s mind that all of us are very clear on what the state of Pakistan is and who its enemies are,” a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) had said.
The army’s statement had further said: “The sacrifices of our shuhada [martyrs] and their families need no endorsement from Munawar Hassan and such misguided and self-serving statements deserve no comments.”
It had stated that Munawar Hassan’s statement was both painful and unfortunate as it came from the head of “a party founded by Maulana Maududi, who is respected and revered for his services to Islam”.
The ISPR release had further added that the people of Pakistan – whose loved ones laid down their lives while fighting terrorism and families of martyrs of the armed forces demand an unconditional apology from JI chief for hurting their feelings.
Sindh lawmakers
Members of the Sindh Assembly, while speaking to the media, criticised Hasan’s statements.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Faisal Sabswari, Rauf Siddiqui, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and Sindh Education Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro called the JI leader’s remark an insult to those who have lost their lives while defending the country.
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[poll id="1253"]