Constitutional amendments: JUI-F calls meeting to form grand alliance
Invites religio-political parties to consider pros and cons of new legislation
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Defying the national consensus over formation of National Action Plan (NAP) and military courts to fight terror in the country, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a government ally, has invited key leaders of religio-political parties to Islamabad on Thursday (today) to make a grand alliance.
“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.
Defying the national consensus over formation of National Action Plan (NAP) and military courts to fight terror in the country, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), a government ally, has invited key leaders of religio-political parties to Islamabad on Thursday (today) to make a grand alliance.
“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.