JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. PHOTO: AFP
“Yes we have invited all religio-political parties including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Pakistan (ITMP) on Thursday in Islamabad to debate over the 21st Constitutional Amendment, amendments in the Pakistan Army Act, 1952 and National Plan Action,” JUI-F spokesperson Jan Muhammad Achakzai confirmed.
In the new alliance, the party also intends to include all five bodies of madaris to prevent the government from taking any coercive measure against the seminaries under the 20-point NAP, which was also agreed by the JI and JUI-F earlier, sources said.
The JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman conveyed to the ITMP, an umbrella of five schools of thought which governs the functioning of religious seminaries across the country, that it is the right time to resist the new plan “otherwise we all will face difficulties”.
The JI and JUI-F were also contemplating reviving Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and in this connection other member parties of the defunct alliance would be consulted in the coming days, JUI-F spokesperson said.
A central leader of the JI told The Express Tribune that JUI-F chief also approached them seeking cooperation for such an alliance but our party head Sirajul Haq did not give positive response to the JUI-F so far.
“It is our desire to bring all religious forces at one platform and activate the defunct Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal to counter all out efforts to bracket terrorism and militancy with religion,” JUI-F chief said.
He accused the government of “trying to link religion with terrorism” in reference to an amendment for madrassa reforms.
“Terrorism does not differentiate between religion and secularism,” he said while addressing the media shortly after the approval of the 21st Constitutional Amendment in the National Assembly.
“A terrorist is a terrorist and there should be no dual standard to eliminate the menace of terrorism,” JUI-F chief noted.
He claimed that he received reaction and reservations from all religious schools of thought against the new legislation, which bracketed terrorism and militancy with religion.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2014.
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"..counter all out efforts to bracket terrorism and militancy with religion" I am afraid mullah sir they are linked. Not just linked but interwined and hand in hand with how religion has been taught in the country. A divorce is required and it is the job of the mullahs and I hope this meeting will be used for that purpose.
Maybe the Maulana sahib should be tried in MC as a Terrorist Militant sympathizer.