The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is not in favour of the ongoing operation in North Waziristan and have, therefore, declined the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) invitation to participate in their solidarity rally on Sunday (today).
“Our stance is different from the MQM,” said JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday. “We believe that military operations are not a solution, and we demand that the one in North Waziristan be stopped immediately.”
The two parties spoke to the media after a delegation of the MQM visited the JI headquarters, Idara Noor-e-Haq, and invited them to join the solidarity rally to show support for the armed forces. The delegation comprised MQM Rabita Committee member Aminul Haque, MNA Rehan Hashmi and leader Abdul Haseeb. While Rehman thanked the MQM for the invitation, he said that his party was not supportive of the army operation as it will only bring temporary success.
Criticising the tactics of the operation, he cited that no arrangements had been made to provide shelter to the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
A friendly gesture
It was a rare meeting between the two parties often considered to be arch-rivals. Keeping aside political differences, Haque said that they had invited the JI for the sake of the country’s prosperity. “Sunday’s rally will be the largest in the history of Pakistan in support of the armed forces,” said Haque.
The MQM leader recalled that they were warmly welcomed by the JI leaders in the past. He said that the MQM had been visiting their offices during the tenures of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Ghafoor Ahmed and Munawar Hassan. The JI have been visiting them, too, he added. Haque invited the JI leadership to MQM headquarters Nine Zero, adding that MQM will continue to visit the JI offices.
The MQM has invited various political parties to the rally on Sunday. Pakistan Peoples Party, Awami National Party, All Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid and Pakistan Muslim League - Functional have accepted the invitation and agreed to send their representatives to the rally.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2014.
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